chinchilla

noun

chin·​chil·​la chin-ˈchi-lə 

1

: either of two small South American rodents (Chinchilla lanigera and C. chinchilla of the family Chinchillidae) of the high Andes that are the size of large squirrels, have very soft pearly-gray fur, and are extensively bred in captivity

also : the fur of a chinchilla

2

: a heavy twilled woolen coating

Illustration of chinchilla

Examples of chinchilla in a Sentence

The collar of the coat is chinchilla.

Recent Examples on the Web

Other unusual animals that can be legally owned in the state include ferrets and chinchillas, llamas, alpacas, giraffes, bison, antelopes and marsupials like kangaroos. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 9 June 2025

Those liposomes were then added to a temperature-sensitive hydrogel, which was applied to the eardrums of chinchillas with middle ear infections. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 6 June 2025

Ace, a seven-year-old, had spent time around cats, dogs and even horses, but the mouse-sized chinchilla under Clark’s tent made the boy uneasy. —J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025

Offstage, Summer lives in the Dallas Fort Worth area, sharing her home with her supportive husband, their charming daughter, her quirky brother, and her canine companions, Cricket, Loki, Adie and chinchilla, Princess Fluffy Pants. —Hilary Tetenbaum, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for chinchilla

• axilla
• flotilla
• gorilla
• guerilla
• guerrilla
• manilla
• mantilla
• maxilla
• mesilla
• papilla
• priscilla
• scintilla

Kids Definition

chinchilla

noun

chin·​chil·​la chin-ˈchil-ə 

: a South American rodent that is the size of a large squirrel and is widely bred in captivity for its very soft fur of a pearly gray color

also : its fur