chili

noun

ˈchi-lē 

variants or less commonly chile 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

From cherry cola ribs and chicken chili tot pie to beer cheese broccoli orzo soup and Nashville hot chicken and pickle dip, check out Spence's recipes below. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

To follow Johnson’s formula, blend a few garlic cloves and chili peppers with water, strain the mixture, and then spray it directly into mole tunnels. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 20 Sep. 2026

Honey-Garlic Chicken Honey, fresh ginger, chili-garlic sauce, garlic, and balsamic vinegar combine with a little butter to make a gorgeous glaze for chicken thighs. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026

The 24-hour flagship location on Beverly and Rampart is the perfect spot to score a chili cheeseburger on your way home from the latest Angel City game at BMO. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish chile, from Nahuatl chīlli

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing chili

• chili con carne
• chili con queso
• chili crisp
• chili dog
• chili oil
• chili powder
• chili sauce
• chili verde
• ghost chili

Rhymes for chili

• billie
• billy
• chilli
• chilly
• dilly
• filly
• frilly
• gillie
• gilly
• hilly
• lily
• philly

Kids Definition

chili

noun

variants also chile or chilli

ˈchil-ē

plural chilies also chiles or chilis or chillies

1

: hot pepper sense 1

2

: chili con carne

Geographical Definition

Chili

geographical name

ˈchi-lē 

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