noun

pepperoni

pep-uh-ROH-nee/ˌpepəˈrəʊni/

A spicy cured sausage commonly used as a pizza topping.

Thin pepperoni slices cover part of the pizza.

A cured pepperoni sausage with thin round slices on a small pizza.

Etymology

Italian peperone names a chilli pepper. In English, the name shifted from the pepper to a beef-and-pork sausage seasoned with pepper, making the seasoning the link to the food.

In context

FUNG BROS.24:48

we're on the outskirts of Chinatown we're in the Les and I'm eating a pepperoni pizza made by a Chinese American

Is This FOOD The Future of Chinatown NEW YORK?

More examples

She added pepperoni to the sandwich.
The shop makes spicy pepperoni.
He ordered a pizza without pepperoni.

Forms

pepperoni

Similar words

salami: Salami is a broader sausage category.
sausage: Sausage need not be cured or spicy.