chickpea

noun

chick·​pea ˈchik-ˌpē How to pronounce chickpea (audio)
: an Asian herb (Cicer arietinum) of the legume family cultivated for its short pods with one or two seeds
also : its seed

Examples of chickpea in a Sentence

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.
Whole grains like quinoa and farro paired with legumes like chickpeas and beans make for a filling, high-protein meal with plenty of fiber. Alice Callahan, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025 Look for a soy-free tofu made with fava beans, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas or almonds, Akerberg advised. Karla Walsh, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025 My favorite is chickpea instead of chicken, with lots of celery and dill, the sort of vegetarian swap that would make my grandma roll her eyes. Emma Laperruque, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Apr. 2025 Who knew chickpeas and pickles make so much sense together? Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chickpea

Word History

Etymology

alteration of chich pea, from Middle English chiche, from Anglo-French, from Latin cicer

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chickpea was in 1542

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chickpea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chickpea. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

chickpea

noun
chick·​pea ˈchik-ˌpē How to pronounce chickpea (audio)
: an Asian herb of the legume family cultivated for its short pods with one or two edible seeds
also : its seed

More from Merriam-Webster on chickpea

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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