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Definition of banana pepper
banana pepper
Plural:banana peppers
banana pepper Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
North American A mild, medium-sized chili pepper (a cultivar of Capsicum annuum) that is typically bright yellow and curved, resembling a banana, commonly served pickled on sandwiches, salads, and pizzas.
Example
"She ordered a large pizza topped with Italian sausage, black olives, and a generous handful of pickled banana peppers."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for banana pepperWord Nuance & Usage
Often confused with the closely related pepperoncini, which looks similar but typically has a more wrinkled skin and a slightly more bitter, earthier flavor.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Originates from American English, straightforwardly named for its bright yellow color and curved, elongated shape that heavily resembles a banana.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Banana pepper. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/banana pepper