paprika

noun

pa·​pri·​ka pə-ˈprē-kə 

pa-

: a usually mild red seasoning consisting of the dried finely ground pods of various sweet peppers

also : a sweet pepper used for making paprika

Examples of paprika in a Sentence

tomato sauce made with garlic, paprika, and pepper

Recent Examples on the Web

Add garlic paste, cajun seasoning, oregano, smoked paprika, and salt; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. —Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2025

Onion and paprika are two examples, but there’s way more, too, per the National Center for Home Food Preservation. —Caroline Tien, SELF, 25 Feb. 2025

Chickpea-Chicken Salad With Green Harissa Dressing Image In this filling salad, chickpeas are seasoned with a blend of cumin, sweet paprika and chile powder that’s found in a Moroccan street food snack. —Isobel Whitcomb, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2025

Mustard and vinegar provide the devilment for a flavorful bite, particularly when topped with a scattering of scallions and paprika. —Saveur Editors, Saveur, 5 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Hungarian, from Serbian & Croatian, from papar ground pepper, ultimately from Latin piper — more at pepper

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for paprika

• arnica
• carica
• rebekah
• turcica
• chica

Kids Definition

paprika

noun

pa·​pri·​ka pə-ˈprē-kə 

pa-

: a mild red spice consisting of the dried finely ground fruit of various cultivated sweet peppers