adobo

noun

ado·​bo ə-ˈdō-bō  ä-ˈt͟hō-bō 

plural adobos

1

: a Philippine dish of fish or meat usually marinated in a sauce containing vinegar and garlic, browned in fat, and simmered in the marinade

2

: a spicy marinade used in Latin American cuisine and usually containing vinegar, garlic, and chili peppers

chipotles in adobo

3

: a seasoning mixture that typically includes ground dried garlic, ground dried onion, oregano, salt, and pepper

Examples of adobo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An answer to that hunger lies in these hearty beef flautas, which get tang and earthiness from adobo and lime, and a tenderness from many hours of slow cooking. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026

But the magic lies in Chipotle’s chicken choice (thighs, which deliver more flavor, fat, and juiciness than chicken breasts) and the marinade (which is warm and smoky thanks to chipotle peppers in adobo, cumin, and ancho chile powder). —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2026

Purchase chunky salsa to help tenderize the meat, which complements the adobo sauce. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026

By a fraction of a point, the judges are giving this one to the pork adobo at Mabuhay. —Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish, "marinade," noun derivative of adobar "to arrange, prepare, cook, marinate," borrowed from Old French adober "to arm (a knight), prepare," from a- (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + -dober, borrowed from Old Low Franconian *dubban "to strike"; akin to Old Frisian dubba "to hit, knock" — more at dub entry 1

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for adobo

• bobo
• hobo
• lobo
• oboe