chile

1 of 3

noun (1)

variant spelling of chili

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

chile

2 of 3

pronunciation spelling

ˈchī(-ə)l 

—used for "child" chiefly in spoken African American English especially of the southern U.S. and in written representations of such speech

… sources close to the situation have said that the "Love on the Brain" singer is remaining in Barbados while awaiting the birth of her first chile, as Newsweek also notes.

—Shanelle Genai

—often used as an affectionate or friendly way of addressing someone

"Chile, no one looks great this early in the morning," [Debbie] Allen [actress] replied with a chuckle, thanking her.

—Tonja Renée Stidhum

The couple shared the amazing news on Instagram, and chile … that ring is everything!

—Jasmine Grant

[Nikole] Hannah-Jones [investigative journalist] decided the best response would be to quote King accurately by reading excerpts of his speeches without mentioning explicitly that they were his words. "And, whew, chile, it was AMAZING," she said.

—David Moye

chili

3 of 3

noun (2)

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 chile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Crumbled feta adds a salty tang, and a touch of chile brings pops of heat that balance the salad’s citrusy notes. — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 21 July 2026

While preparing dishes at the festival, Adjepong loved the way mango interacted with smoke, chile and deeper savory flavors. — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Noun

Chickpeas add even more protein and texture to this family-friendly Instant Pot turkey chili. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 23 July 2026

At Wingstop, the Sweet Heat Chamoy flavor features a bold dry rub drizzled with vibrant Tajín Chamoy sauce, delivering a mouthwatering balance of sweet, tangy fruit notes, distinct chili heat, and citrus zest. — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Spanish chile, from Nahuatl chīlli

First Known Use

Pronunciation Spelling

1839, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing chile

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

Rhymes for chile

• bacilli
• tranquilly
• billie
• billy
• chilli
• chilly
• dilly
• filly
• frilly
• gillie
• gilly
• hilly

Geographical Definition

Chile 1 of 2

geographical name (1)

Chi·​le ˈchi-lē 

ˈchē-(ˌ)lā

long, narrow country of southwestern South America between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific; a republic whose capital is Santiago and whose legislative capital is Valparaíso area 291,933 square miles (756,102 square kilometers), population 17,925,000

Chilean

ˈchi-lē-ən 

chə-ˈlā-ən

adjective or noun

Chili

2 of 2

geographical name (2)

ˈchi-lē 

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