chi

1 of 2

noun (1)

: the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet see Alphabet Table

chi

2 of 2

noun (2)

variants or ch'i or less commonly qi
often capitalized
: vital energy that is held to animate the body internally and is of central importance in some Eastern systems of medical treatment (such as acupuncture) and of exercise or self-defense (such as tai chi)

Examples of chi in a Sentence

Noun (2) the concept of chi is of central importance in acupuncture
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.
Noun
Featuring simple Tai Chi forms and qi gong (energy work). Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2025 How does a young man with perfectly flowing chi and an EpiPen in his glove compartment wind up puffy faced and dead just off the Van Wyck Expressway? Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025 Chief among its design is its challenging AI that seems impervious to previous game exploits like charging your chi from a safe distance and cheesing damage by unleashing raw supers. Isaiah Colbert, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2024 When these forces become unbalanced by disease, an energy in the body called qi gets disrupted. Tim Petrie, Dpt, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for chi

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Greek chei, chi

Noun (2)

Chinese (Beijing) , literally, air, breath

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chi was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chi. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

chi

noun
ˈkī
: the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet
Χ or χ
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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