hot pepper
Americannoun
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any of variously shaped pungent peppers of the genus Capsicum, containing large amounts of capsaicin and usually having thin walls.
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a plant bearing such a pepper.
noun
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any of several varieties of the pepper Capsicum frutescens, esp chilli pepper
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the pungent usually small fruit of any of these plants
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of hot pepper
First recorded in 1940–45
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.
Fancy cocktail napkins are a big seller, as are specialty jellies in flavors like hot pepper and cinnamon pear.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 6, 2025
You’ll find “planetary frankfurters” — hot dogs launched into orbit by a relish-cheese spread and something called liquid hot pepper seasoning.
From Salon • Sep. 23, 2025
We’re one of the largest hot pepper farms in the U.S.
From Scientific American • Oct. 26, 2023
Dried peppers can be ground into flakes or a fine powder using a blender or food processor and used like commercial hot pepper flakes.
From Seattle Times • May 25, 2023
Unsuspecting, George energetically attacked my mother’s breast only to let go of it instantly and start hollering because of the hot pepper.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
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.
