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

Queen Bey’s feminism would mature — on the occasion of her 25th birthday, specifics were mostly limited to paying one’s own way and doing one’s best to keep rivals out of chinchilla coats. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 4 July 2026

Other small mammals like ferrets, degus, sugar gliders, chinchillas, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats and mice are all allowed as pets. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026

What's more, the European Commission is planning to announce a decision on banning the holding and killing of mink, foxes, raccoon, dogs and chinchilla, and marketing of fur products from those animals, according to its website. — ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026

As for that friendly neighborhood chinchilla? — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 22 Dec. 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