chili

noun

ˈchi-lē 

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

Some of its unique flavors include notes of chili, lemon, orange blossom, and wildflower honey. —Jenifer Calle, Glamour, 2 Dec. 2024

Adding it to a hearty pumpkin chili for a warm, satisfying meal that’s full of fall flavor is also a hit. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2024

Chef Joe Cheek and his team offer a shrimp boat with fresh basil, Parmesan and a Peruvian yellow pepper sauce; cauliflower tossed with guanciale, fish sauce and red miso spiked with chili crisp, and some of the best soup specials in town. —Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 27 Nov. 2024

What makes chili chili?Why does everyone else do it wrong by adding beans? —Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish chile, from Nahuatl chīlli

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing chili

• chili con carne
• chili con queso
• chili dog
• chili powder
• chili sauce
• ghost chili

Kids Definition

chili

noun

variants also chile or chilli

ˈchil-ē

plural chilies also chiles or chilis or chillies

1

: hot pepper sense 1

2

: chili con carne

Geographical Definition

Chili

geographical name

ˈchi-lē 

—former, especially British name for Chile or for the once poorly defined Andes border region between Chile and Argentina