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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."

How to use pepperoni

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA spicy sliced sausage, most commonly known as a pizza topping.

Common pairings
pepperoni pizza a slice of pepperoni

Word forms

pepperonis plural, pepperoni plural

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Test yourself on “pepperoni” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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.

Origin: Italian

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.

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