noun
pepperoni
peh-puh-ROH-nee
Pepperoni (noun) means a spicy, cured sausage of Italian-American origin, made from pork and beef. Example: “He ordered a large pizza topped with pepperoni.”
noun
1
A spicy, cured sausage of Italian-American origin, made from pork and beef.
"He ordered a large pizza topped with pepperoni."
"He gave the dog a treat — a dried up skinny, turdy looking, pepperoni sausage."
— George Galjan, Cops (2006)
How to use pepperoni
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA spicy sliced sausage, most commonly known as a pizza topping.
Common pairings
pepperoni pizza
a slice of pepperoni
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like pepperoni.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- pepperonis
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He ordered a large pizza topped with _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian peperoni, meaning "bell peppers" — the name shifted meaning when it crossed into American English.
Rhymes for pepperoni
See all rhymes for pepperoni →Frequently asked questions
What does “pepperoni” mean?
The word “pepperoni” means a spicy, cured sausage of Italian-American origin, made from pork and beef. In plain terms, a spicy sliced sausage, most commonly known as a pizza topping.
How do you pronounce “pepperoni”?
“Pepperoni” is pronounced peh-puh-ROH-nee (/pɛpəˈɹoʊni/ in IPA).
How do you use “pepperoni” in a sentence?
Here is “pepperoni” used in a sentence: “He ordered a large pizza topped with pepperoni.”
What part of speech is “pepperoni”?
“Pepperoni” is a noun.
Where does the word “pepperoni” come from?
The word “pepperoni” comes from Italian. Borrowed from Italian peperoni, meaning "bell peppers" — the name shifted meaning when it crossed into American English.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include pepperoni:
