variants
or less commonly chile
or chiefly British chilli
plural chilies also chiles or chilis or chiefly British chillies
1
a
or chili pepper
: a hot pepper of any of a group of cultivars (Capsicum annuum annuum group longum) noted for their pungency
b
chiefly British chilli
: a pepper whether hot or sweet
2
a
: a thick sauce of meat and chilies
liked to cover her spaghetti with red chili
b
: chili con carne
a bowl of chili
also
: a similar dish made without beef
vegetarian chili
seafood chili
Examples of chili in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Its ever-changing menu is veg-forward, with dishes such as roasted Japanese sweet potato with labneh, chili crisp and tahini.
—
Kin Woo Gisela Williams Amy Conway Kate Maxwell, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Instead of relying on jalapeño peppers for heat, gochujang — a spicy, savory, fermented red chili paste that’s a staple in Korean cooking — is used in the tequila cocktail, along with lime juice and triple sec, to add a touch of heat.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
Other choices include orecchiette with sausage, broccoli rabe, Fresno chili and Parmigiano and pappardelle verde with veal Bolognese, a white Bolognese sauce.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2025
In my grandparents’ 1979 beach condo, the kitchen’s buttery laminate flooring set a sunny tone for all the magic my grandmother churned out: cubes of sugary, melt-in-your-mouth fudge; piles of perfectly prepared crab legs; and pots upon pots of her famous hot dog chili.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chili
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Kin Woo Gisela Williams Amy Conway Kate Maxwell, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Instead of relying on jalapeño peppers for heat, gochujang — a spicy, savory, fermented red chili paste that’s a staple in Korean cooking — is used in the tequila cocktail, along with lime juice and triple sec, to add a touch of heat.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
Other choices include orecchiette with sausage, broccoli rabe, Fresno chili and Parmigiano and pappardelle verde with veal Bolognese, a white Bolognese sauce.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2025
In my grandparents’ 1979 beach condo, the kitchen’s buttery laminate flooring set a sunny tone for all the magic my grandmother churned out: cubes of sugary, melt-in-your-mouth fudge; piles of perfectly prepared crab legs; and pots upon pots of her famous hot dog chili.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chili
Articles Related to chili
Cite this Entry
“Chili.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chili. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.
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