capsicum

American  

[kap-si-kuhm] / ˈkæp sɪ kəm /

noun

capsicums plural

1. any plant of the genus Capsicum, of the nightshade family, as C. annuum, the common pepper of the garden, occurring in many varieties.

2. the fruit of such a plant or some preparation of it, used as a condiment and intestinal stimulant.

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capsicum British  

/ ˈkæpsɪkəm /

noun

1. any tropical American plant of the solanaceous genus Capsicum, such as C. frutescens, having mild or pungent seeds enclosed in a pod-shaped or bell-shaped fruit

2. the fruit of any of these plants, used as a vegetable or ground to produce a condiment

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• capsicums
  plural

Etymology

Origin of capsicum

1655–65; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin caps ( a ) case ² + -icum, neuter of -icus -ic

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

capsicum capsicums

It said average prices for fruit and vegetables dipped 12% with berries, lettuce, cucumbers, capsicum, and tomatoes all declining "materially", the company said.

From Reuters ● Oct. 25, 2023

The CaJohn’s gum has the same active ingredient as police-grade pepper spray, oleoresin capsicum.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 8, 2023

The board first voted in early 2019 to ban probation officers from deploying pepper spray, also known as oleoresin capsicum or OC spray.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2023

These carotenoids are found in tomatoes, apples, cherries, watermelon, red grapes, strawberries and capsicum.

From Salon ● Nov. 28, 2022

I shared the padre’s dwelling, the best in the village; his supper too—a stewed fowl, killed for the occasion, and rendered fiery hot with ‘aji,’ or capsicum.

From The Hunters' Feast Conversations Around the Camp Fire by Reid, Mayne

However, the researchers expect similar benefits from other vitamin C rich foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables such as citrus, berries, capsicums and broccoli.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 26, 2025

Salicylates occur naturally in many healthy foods, including apples, berries, tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, capsicums, nuts, seeds, spices and some grains.

From Salon ● May 28, 2024

At the local organic vegetable market, the harried grocer displays capsicums, cauliflower and potatoes naked, but sells them in fastened plastic bags.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 19, 2019

The warning was warranted as the two very experienced chiliheads sweated, writhed in pain and briefly lost the ability to speak after each chewing and swallowing one of the bright-red capsicums.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2013

This Guinea pepper is probably that now known under the name of Jamaica pepper; but the extremely pungent kind must be some of the numerous species of capsicums, usually called Cayenne pepper.--E.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 02 Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time by Kerr, Robert