variants or less commonly 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
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.
For less heat, decrease the amount of Kashmiri chili or omit. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025 Sal’s parking on the Waterloo set leads to him getting his suit covered in chili. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025 Crab, for which Baltimore is famous, appears in the form of pancakes spiked with a hit of chili jam. Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2025 Inspectors observed improper heating violations, with taco cheese and chili below safe temperatures. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chili

Word History

Etymology

Spanish chile, from Nahuatl chīlli

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of chili was in 1604

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Cite this Entry

“Chili.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chili. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

chili

noun
variants also chile or chilli
ˈchil-ē
plural chilies also chiles or chilis or chillies

Geographical Definition

Chili

geographical name

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

More from Merriam-Webster on chili

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