red pepper

American  

noun

• red peppers
  plural

1. cayenne.

2. a pepper, Capsicum annuum longum, cultivated in many varieties, the yellow or red pods of which are used for flavoring, sauces, etc.

3. the mild, ripe fruit of the sweet pepper, Capsicum annuum grossum, used as a vegetable.

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red pepper British  

noun

1. any of several varieties of the pepper plant Capsicum frutescens , cultivated for their hot pungent red podlike fruits

2. the fruit of any of these plants

3. the ripe red fruit of the sweet pepper

4. another name for cayenne pepper

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• red peppers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of red pepper

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

red pepper

Add minced garlic, minced ginger and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026

Shortcut: Replace the buttermilk powder, garlic powder, onion powder, dill and parsley with 1 packet of ranch seasoning, then add black pepper and red pepper to taste.

From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026

I bought a tub of amatriciana, flecked with visible hunks of guanciale and red pepper flakes, and a box of rigatoni.

From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026

Some nights I lean toward spice, blooming coriander, cumin, turmeric and red pepper flakes alongside frozen ginger and garlic cubes.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026

He always hands me a piece of red pepper or broccoli and asks me to test it for freshness.

From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan

Related Words

• chili pepper
• hot pepper
• jalapeno