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

Instead, these fatty acids must be obtained from foods such as salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds, or by taking supplements. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 26 June 2026

Flax, chia, pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, and hemp seeds are rich in fiber, magnesium, healthy fats, and antioxidants that support heart health. — Jillian Kubala, Health, 25 June 2026

Chia seed pudding provides more protein and tends to be more filling than chia seed water. — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 25 June 2026

Among the mushrooms, chia seeds, and other ingredients being added to mealtimes is sea moss. — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 24 June 2026

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
• dyspnea
• dyspnoea
• hosea
• idea
• kshatriya
• kyrie
• lutea
• maria