cappuccino
Americannoun
plural
cappuccinosnoun
Etymology
Origin of cappuccino
First recorded in 1945–50; from Italian: literally, “capuchin,” so called from a fancied resemblance of the drink's color to the color of a Capuchin habit; see Capuchin ( def. )
Compare meaning
How does cappuccino compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A cappuccino is a hot drink made with espresso and steamed milk. You might order a cappuccino at your favorite neighborhood cafe. Cappuccino is one of dozens of drink choices at any coffee shop that has an espresso machine. While many of these drinks were invented in the U.S., cappuccino is authentically Italian, traditionally served in a fairly small cup and made with equal parts strong espresso, steamed milk, and dense milk foam. The word itself comes from the brown color of the hoods worn by Capuchin monks in Italy.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I did not, so I arranged to road-test the Breville Oracle Jet—a foolproof Cadillac for cappuccino lovers, I was told.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025
The black-colored beans are dark chocolate espresso flavored, while the brown beans are milk chocolate flavored, meant to mimic the robustness and sweetness of a cappuccino.
From Salon • Oct. 21, 2025
At an M&S Cafe in central London that the BBC visited, Matthew Wilsher has just got a cappuccino to go.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2025
The first thing I do when I pop out of bed is go downstairs and make myself a cappuccino.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2024
Then I dove on those papers like Sherlock Holmes on a cappuccino binge.
From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
