cappuccino
Americannoun
-
cappuccinos
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
I think that’s where I had my first coffee too, a cappuccino.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
But look, there’s also loads of Ye Olde charm, beautiful beaches, pristine forests and a brand-new cappuccino machine!
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
We felt the best way for people to understand what oat milk is is to go to your coolest cafe, get a cool barista who pours you a perfect latte or cappuccino with oat milk.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
What about a cappuccino after dinner, ketchup on pasta or parmesan on seafood pasta?
From BBC ● May 9, 2026
“Come buy me a hot cappuccino and tell me about this new girlfriend.”
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Robots were everywhere, dancing in unison, making cappuccinos, shooting soccer goals, massaging visitors and playing the piano.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
As puppacinos become as easy to buy as cappuccinos - is the UK edging towards a society that is completely dog-friendly?
From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2026
Carrying two steaming cappuccinos from a popular American coffee chain on Thursday, Niels Berthelsen took the time to stop despite the icy cold winds whipping the streets of Nuuk, the Greenlandic capital.
From Barron's ● Jan. 22, 2026
With that specialization also came espresso beverages—the flat whites, cappuccinos, and Americanos that now make up the baseline menu for most coffee shops.
From Slate ● Dec. 22, 2025
In the fifties it filled the heads of the Beats like the foam in their cappuccinos.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
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