enchilada

noun

en·​chi·​la·​da ˌen-chə-ˈlä-də How to pronounce enchilada (audio)
1
: a usually corn tortilla rolled around a savory mixture, covered with chili sauce, and usually baked
2
: schmear sense 1, ball of wax
the whole enchilada

Examples of enchilada in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Dinner dishes include enchiladas, carne asada, Mexico City-style street tacos, and ceviche. Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 The point is enchiladas are always delicious, so do whatever works for you. Laura McLively, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2024 An expansion of the recall on Thursday, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration, increases the products recalled to more than five dozen, including black bean dip and other products sold at Costco, and Trader Joe's brand enchiladas, salad dressing and salads, the FDA said. USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2024 Entrées are chicken, shrimp or steak fajitas, crab and shrimp enchiladas or a Muy Grande Platter. Fielding Buck, Orange County Register, 5 Feb. 2024 Super Bowl staples were recalled because of a listeria outbreak effecting seven-layer bean dip, chicken enchiladas, cilantro salad dressing and taco kits. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 10 Feb. 2024 Seven-layer bean dip, chicken enchiladas, cilantro salad dressing and taco kits sold at stores like Costco, Trader Joe’s and Albertson’s are part of the growing recalls of products made by Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc., of Modesto, California, federal health officials said. Jonel Aleccia, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2024 For a nice sit-down meal, consider the housemade pastas at Donato Enoteca and mole enchiladas at Quinto Sol. Entertainment? Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2024 Menu items would include burritos, tacos, enchiladas and pork sandwiches. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enchilada.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, from feminine of enchilado, past participle of enchilar to season with chili, from Spanish en- en- entry 1 + chile chili

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of enchilada was in 1878

Dictionary Entries Near enchilada

Cite this Entry

“Enchilada.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enchilada. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

enchilada

noun
en·​chi·​la·​da ˌen-chə-ˈläd-ə How to pronounce enchilada (audio)
: a tortilla rolled around a meat or cheese filling and covered with a chili sauce
Etymology

American Spanish, derived from earlier enchilar "to season with chili"

More from Merriam-Webster on enchilada

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