chocolate

noun

choc·​o·​late ˈchä-k(ə-)lət  ˈchȯ- 

1

: a food prepared from ground roasted cacao beans

The cake recipe calls for four squares of chocolate.

2

: a small candy with a center (such as a fondant) and a chocolate coating

gave her a box of chocolates

3

: a beverage made by mixing chocolate with water or milk

The boy stirred the chocolate before drinking it.

4

: a brownish gray

The bird's plumage was a shade of chocolate.

chocolate adjective

Examples of chocolate in a Sentence

The cake recipe calls for four squares of chocolate.

She gave me a box of chocolates for my birthday.

Recent Examples on the Web

Additions to the menu include alligator bites and sweet treats, including strawberry shortcake and turtle cheesecake, a decadent chocolate cake and, of course, beignets. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2026

In return, Mottola sent Epstein gift baskets of Bridgewater chocolate and Italian bread and offered to let Epstein use his discount at the pricey furniture store Restoration Hardware. —Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026

Reese said Hershey's changing of its chocolate formula set off a chain reaction because the vegetable oils the company uses to make the chocolate coating don’t mesh well with peanut butter. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026

KitKat is asking for the public's help after thieves made off with 12 tons of the company's chocolate — prompting the launch of a new tracking tool to help locate the missing shipment. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Nahuatl chocolātl, probably an alteration of eastern Nahuatl dialect chikolātl, from chikolli hook (probably used to refer to the beater used to mix chocolate with water) + ātl water, liquid

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing chocolate

• baker's chocolate
• baking chocolate
• chocolate-box
• chocolate chip cookie
• chocolate milk
• dark chocolate
• hot chocolate
• milk chocolate
• plain chocolate
• sweet chocolate
• white chocolate

Kids Definition

chocolate

noun

choc·​o·​late ˈchäk-(ə-)lət  ˈchȯk- 

1

: a beverage of chocolate in water or milk

2

: a food prepared from ground roasted cacao beans

3

: a candy made of or coated with chocolate

4

: a brownish gray

chocolate adjective