chile

1 of 2

noun

variant spelling of chili

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

chile

2 of 2

pronunciation spelling

used for "child" chiefly in spoken African American English especially of the southern U.S. and in written representations of such speech
… sources close to the situation have said that the "Love on the Brain" singer is remaining in Barbados while awaiting the birth of her first chile, as Newsweek also notes.Shanelle Genai
often used as an affectionate or friendly way of addressing someone
"Chile, no one looks great this early in the morning," [Debbie] Allen [actress] replied with a chuckle, thanking her. …Tonja Renée Stidhum
The couple shared the amazing news on Instagram, and chile … that ring is everything! …Jasmine Grant
[Nikole] Hannah-Jones [investigative journalist] decided the best response would be to quote King accurately by reading excerpts of his speeches without mentioning explicitly that they were his words. "And, whew, chile, it was AMAZING," she said.David Moye

Examples of chile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
But since the annual harvest — and most of the state’s green chile festivals — don’t run until the July-October period, devotees have the option of picking up bushels of frozen, roasted green chiles that still spark dynamite flavors at backyard cookouts. John Wenzel, Denver Post, 9 June 2025 It's flavored with chile peppers, paprika, garlic, and olive oil. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2025 A lot of folks know New Mexico for green chiles, the largest hot air balloon festival in the world, and the birthplace of the bomb. John Burnett, NPR, 7 June 2025 Who Likes a Little Kick to It Ranging from mild to spicy, the six-bottle set features single-origin chiles and spices—like red jalapeño and hot paprika—sourced from small farms around the world. Alex Apatoff, People.com, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for chile

Word History

First Known Use

Pronunciation Spelling

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chile was in 1839

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chile. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.

Geographical Definition

Chile

geographical name

Chi·​le ˈchi-lē How to pronounce Chile (audio)
ˈchē-(ˌ)lā
long, narrow country of southwestern South America between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific; a republic whose capital is Santiago and whose legislative capital is Valparaíso area 291,933 square miles (756,102 square kilometers), population 17,925,000
Chilean
ˈchi-lē-ən How to pronounce Chile (audio)
chə-ˈlā-ən
adjective or noun

More from Merriam-Webster on chile

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