chickpea

noun

chick·​pea ˈchik-ˌpē 

: an Asian herb (Cicer arietinum) of the legume family cultivated for its short pods with one or two seeds

also : its seed

Examples of chickpea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lentils, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, tofu, and many other sources contain an impressive amount of iron per serving. —Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 2 Sep. 2025

While the tried-and-true standards are done well, why not start your day on a savory note with the Moroccan eggplant and chickpea tagine? —Katie Chang, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025

To manage sodium intake, remember to drain and rinse the chickpeas. —Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2025

Another ode to the Midwest comes in Purslane’s walleye falafel ($21), where bits of the freshwater fish are folded into classic chickpea falafel batter and deep fried. —Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of chich pea, from Middle English chiche, from Anglo-French, from Latin cicer

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

chickpea

noun

chick·​pea ˈchik-ˌpē 

: an Asian herb of the legume family cultivated for its short pods with one or two edible seeds

also : its seed