What does pizza mean?
A pizza is a flat, baked Italian bread usually covered with tomato sauce, cheese, and additional toppings. It may be made in many styles, including thin, thick, Neapolitan, Sicilian, and deep-dish versions, and is commonly served in slices or as a whole pie. In everyday speech, pizza refers both to the individual dish and, collectively, to the food as a meal. The word is international in use but is especially associated with Italian cuisine and Italian-American restaurants. Its meaning has broadened beyond the traditional tomato-and-cheese model, so toppings such as meat, seafood, vegetables, fruit, and herbs are now common. The term is also widely used in expressions connected with parties, delivery, sharing, and informal gatherings.
nounA flat, baked Italian bread topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and often other ingredients such as meat, vegetables, or herbs.
- A round, flat Italian bread made with dough, tomato sauce, cheese, and other toppings.
- The food itself, especially when considered as a meal or dish rather than as an individual pie.
"We ordered a margherita pizza with extra basil."
"She baked a pizza with mushrooms and artichokes."
"The café offers a slice of pizza and a soft drink for lunch."
The standard plural is pizzas. In ordinary usage, both a single pie and multiple pies may be counted.
"The shop makes several kinds of pizzas."
The word pizza entered English through Italian, where it ultimately connects with the ancient Greek word for a flat cake or bread.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pizza come from?
The English word comes from Italian pizza, an older plural form related to the dialect word pitta. The Italian word is generally traced to a variant of ancient Greek pitta, meaning a cake or bread, although the precise development is not entirely certain. The form spread internationally through Italian cuisine and restaurant culture.
Related word forms
How pizza is actually used
The word is informal and everyday, but it is also standard in culinary and business contexts. In American English, the count noun plural is commonly used: one pizza, two pizzas. British and American usage otherwise differ little.
Easily confused with pizza
A pizza is a topped Italian flatbread, whereas a pita is typically an unfilled Middle Eastern pocket bread or a round flatbread used for sandwiches.