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

Top your oatmeal with healthy sources of protein, fiber, and fats, like chia seeds, collagen peptides, Greek yogurt, nut butters, and fresh fruit. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 10 Apr. 2026

Consuming large amounts of fiber (such as adding chia seeds or psyllium husk to your water) too quickly can cause gastrointestinal distress, Ormsby says. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Apr. 2026

Find healthy fats in foods like salmon, walnuts, chia seeds, olive oil, and avocados. —Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2026

Top with banana, berries, chia, walnuts, and cinnamon. —Siya Bhambwani, Vogue, 6 Apr. 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
• coffea
• dyspnea
• dyspnoea
• hosea
• idea
• kshatriya
• maria
• medea