Chihuahua

noun

Chi·​hua·​hua chə-ˈwä-(ˌ)wä How to pronounce Chihuahua (audio)
shə-,
-wə
: any of a breed of very small roundheaded dogs that occur in short-coated and long-coated varieties

Examples of Chihuahua in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In truth, finding a Chihuahua at the adoption center was a long shot. Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025 Alex Caruso, the Thunder’s Chihuahua yapping up the Nuggets’ trees, pestered Aaron Gordon in search of a desperation turnover. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 16 May 2025 Cattle are detained in the pens of the Chihuahua Regional Livestock Union, at the Jeronimo-Santa Teresa border crossing in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. CBS News, 11 May 2025 The application fees for a green card range from $2,000 to $5,000, and applicants often must travel to places like Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, (across the border from El Paso) to obtain a visa. Laura Castañeda, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for Chihuahua

Word History

Etymology

Mexican Spanish, from Chihuahua, Mexico

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Chihuahua was in 1858

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Cite this Entry

“Chihuahua.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Chihuahua. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

Chihuahua

noun
Chi·​hua·​hua chə-ˈwä-(ˌ)wä How to pronounce Chihuahua (audio)
shə-,
-wə
: any of a breed of very small large-eared dogs that originated in Mexico
Etymology

named for Chihuahua, a state in Mexico

Geographical Definition

Chihuahua

geographical name

Chi·​hua·​hua chē-ˈwä-(ˌ)wä How to pronounce Chihuahua (audio)
chə-,
-wə
1
state of northern Mexico bordering on the U.S. (Texas and New Mexico) area 95,400 square miles (247,086 square kilometers), population 3,406,465
2
city, and capital of the Mexican state of Chihuahua metropolitan area population 819,543

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