hot pepper

noun

: any of various small and usually thin-walled capsicum fruits of marked pungency

also : a plant (especially a variant or cultivar of Capsicum annuum and C. frutescens) bearing hot peppers

Examples of hot pepper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the original Szechuan location has remained a busy favorite for spicy Sichuan-style dishes such as garlic chicken, spicy green beans, shrimp with hot ginger sauce and shredded beef shredded with hot peppers. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2024

At Hot Daisy, the offerings range from classic pepperoni, which can be ordered firefighter style with hot peppers, to an elote slice — a surprise favorite for a purist like me. —Jill Cassidy, The Arizona Republic, 14 June 2024

Add the shallot, garlic cloves, olive oil, vinegar and hot pepper sauce to the food processor. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 14 June 2024

A little investigation revealed the seed cylinders were the type that have a hint of hot pepper oil (capsaicin) to help shoo away the would-be squirrel invaders. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 12 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hot pepper

noun

1

: an often thin-walled and small pepper with a sharp or biting taste

2

: a pepper plant of the nightshade family that bears hot peppers