pepperoni
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of pepperoni
1920–25, < Italian peperoni, plural of peperone cayenne pepper plant, augmentative of pepe pepper
Explanation
Pepperoni is a flavorful sausage that's usually cut in thin slices. On pizza night, you and your sister might argue about toppings: you prefer pepperoni, while she likes mushrooms and olives. Officially, pepperoni is a variety of salami, a sausage that makes most people think of sandwiches rather than pizza. Usually pepperoni is bright red, with a peppery, smoky flavor and a soft, chewy texture. Rather than black pepper, most pepperoni is flavored with paprika, a seasoning made from sweet bell peppers. The origin of the name backs this up: it comes from the Italian peperone, "bell pepper."
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.
The hope is to be serving the community piping hot slices of pepperoni pizza by spring.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Top your mocktail with fried bacon, cheese on skewers and pepperoni.
From Salon ● Jan. 18, 2026
It did have cheese, though, and pepperoni, sausage, hamburger, onion, and green peppers.
From Slate ● Nov. 13, 2025
For him that means a tightly edited menu of classics like pepperoni, meatball and a white pie with mushrooms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2025
For dinner, I order a large pepperoni pizza and a side of cheesy bread.
From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle
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.
