pizza

noun

piz·​za ˈpēt-sə How to pronounce pizza (audio)
: a dish made typically of flattened bread dough spread with a savory mixture usually including tomatoes and cheese and often other toppings and baked

called also pizza pie

pizzalike
ˈpēt-sə-ˌlīk How to pronounce pizza (audio)
adjective

Examples of pizza in a Sentence

We ordered a pizza for supper. I ordered pizza for supper. a slice of pepperoni pizza
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Food items on the hot hold line -- vegetables and protein, and pizza -- lacked time-mark labels. — Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026 Some of the pizzeria’s signature pies are an Indian garlic chicken pizza, a chicken curry pizza, a chicken Tikki masala pizza, and a vegetable masala pizza, according to its online menu. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026 The rolling pizza party is just one example of how deeply the dish has become woven into New Haven's identity. — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 Combs paid inmates to clean and cook special meals for him, including curry chicken, pizza and empanadas, and that the hip-hop artist also received Chinese-style massages, four sources told NBC News. — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pizza

Word History

Etymology

Italian, perhaps of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German bizzo, pizzo bite, bit, bīzan to bite — more at bite

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pizza was in 1825

Phrases Containing pizza

Browse Nearby Words

pizz
pizza
pizzaiola
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pizza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pizza. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pizza

noun
piz·​za ˈpēt-sə How to pronounce pizza (audio)
: a dish made typically of thinly rolled bread dough spread with a spiced mixture usually including tomatoes and cheese and often other toppings and baked

called also pizza pie

Etymology

from Italian pizza "pizza"

More from Merriam-Webster on pizza

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pizza

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