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.
Everyone has their method: Alton Brown swears by a dollop of mayonnaise; Martha Stewart sometimes froths hers in a cappuccino maker.
From Salon • Nov. 13, 2025
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
Then I’d have my husband go to the kitchen and make me my first coffee — a pistachio milk cappuccino — which he’d bring to me in bed.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2024
At nearby Cafe Noglish, owner Anne Britt, 56, is steaming milk to make a cappuccino.
From BBC • Oct. 18, 2024
He gives me a pink lemonade, Hudson an iced mocha, and Harriett a cappuccino with caramel drizzle.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
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.
