chia

noun

ˈchē-ə 

plural chia

1

: an annual herb (Salvia hispanica) of the mint family that is native to Mexico and Guatemala, has spikes of blue, purple, or white flowers, and is grown for its grayish, edible, mucilaginous seeds which are eaten whole or used especially to make a beverage or oil

… to develop, test and grow new cultivars of chia that are able to produce seed in the cooler climate of the Upper South and Midwest, with the potential to increase production of this crop with a traceable domestic supply.

—Susan Smith-Durisek

also : any of several related salvias (especially Salvia columbariae) of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico

2

or chia seed : the seed of a chia

When mixed with water, the fiber in chia forms a gel that lowers cholesterol and keeps blood sugar stable.

—Jane E. Brody

Chia seeds are tiny and have a very mild taste, making them easy to add to all kinds of foods to boost nutrition.

—Megan Murphy

Examples of chia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To up your fiber intake, consider adding a tablespoon of chia seeds, which provides about five grams of fiber, Shah shares. —Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 30 Dec. 2025

One ounce of chia seeds, about 2 tablespoons, contains almost 10 grams of fiber. —Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 27 Dec. 2025

Adding chia seeds to carrot juice or pairing it with protein and fats can boost its nutrient profile. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 23 Dec. 2025

The best way to do this is to load up on magnesium-rich foods like avocado, spinach, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, quinoa and almonds, and consider adding a clean magnesium supplement. —Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 22 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish chía, from Nahuatl chía, chian, from Maya chiháan "strong, strengthening"

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for chia

• aliya
• aliyah
• althea
• apnoea
• coffea
• dyspnea
• dyspnoea
• hosea
• idea
• kshatriya
• maria
• medea