pancetta
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of pancetta
First recorded in 1950–55; from Italian: literally, “little belly,” diminutive of pancia “belly, paunch,” from Latin pantic- (stem of pantex ) “belly, paunch, guts” + -etta diminutive suffix ( cf. -ette ( def. ))
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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.
Each one has a crisp, dramatically puffed border surrounding a baked egg, with salty pancetta, sharp pecorino and enough black pepper to send the whole thing in a cacio e pepe direction.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
The sprouts are more like the main event than a side when generously embellished the way these are, with creamy béchamel, Parmesan and pancetta.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 15, 2025
Toss with rigatoni, add crisped pancetta or bacon if you like, then shower with goat cheese.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2025
Pi00a isn’t a restaurant but pops up all over Los Angeles and beyond, baking puffy-edged, char-crusted pizza pies with toppings such as miso eggplant; soppressata with chili crunch; Hainan chicken; and Asian pear with pancetta.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2024
I could go to the farmer’s market on the Broad; I could buy venison and pancetta and spend the day cooking.
From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins
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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.