chickpea

noun

chick·​pea ˈchik-ˌpē 

: an Asian herb (Cicer arietinum) of the legume family cultivated for its short pods with one or two seeds

also : its seed

Examples of chickpea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pile the chickpea mixture in the center and add cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. — Gretchen McKay, Boston Herald, 24 June 2026

Options like roasted chickpeas, cottage cheese, and edamame can help keep you full between meals. — Lindsey Desoto, Health, 30 June 2026

Serve tofu scramble over the chickpea pancake with avocado toast on the side and garnish it with fresh herbs. — Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 23 June 2026

How to Eat Use chickpeas in salads or minestrone soup for a boost of protein, says Elick. — Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 5 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of chich pea, from Middle English chiche, from Anglo-French, from Latin cicer

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

chickpea

noun

chick·​pea ˈchik-ˌpē 

: an Asian herb of the legume family cultivated for its short pods with one or two edible seeds

also : its seed