chili

noun

ˈchi-lē 

variants or less commonly chile or chiefly British chilli

plural chilies also chiles or chilis or chiefly British chillies

1

a

or chili pepper : a hot pepper of any of a group of cultivars (Capsicum annuum annuum group longum) noted for their pungency

b

chiefly British chilli : a pepper whether hot or sweet

2

a

: a thick sauce of meat and chilies

liked to cover her spaghetti with red chili

b

: chili con carne

a bowl of chili

also : a similar dish made without beef

vegetarian chili

seafood chili

Examples of chili in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The menu featured global flavors with a heavy South Asian influence with offerings like charred cabbage with fish sauce, Taiwanese cabbage and chili and khao man gai, a Thai-style chicken and rice dish. — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026

Also on the menu is the Bluefin Tuna Tartare with Calabrian chili soy sauce and the Double Deuce, a signature cocktail that nods to COQODAQ’s ongoing presence at the US Open. — Rachel Dube, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

The hot dog itself has enough snap and flavor to stand on its own, but the chili brings it all together. — Justin Brown, AJC.com, 27 June 2026

The steam table held 120-degree chicken and dumpling soup and 101-degree chili. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish chile, from Nahuatl chīlli

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing chili

• chili con carne
• chili con queso
• chili crisp
• chili dog
• chili powder
• chili sauce
• ghost chili

Rhymes for chili

• billie
• billy
• chilli
• chilly
• dilly
• filly
• frilly
• gillie
• gilly
• hilly
• lily
• philly

Kids Definition

chili

noun

variants also chile or chilli

ˈchil-ē

plural chilies also chiles or chilis or chillies

1

: hot pepper sense 1

2

: chili con carne

Geographical Definition

Chili

geographical name

ˈchi-lē 

—former, especially British name for Chile or for the once poorly defined Andes border region between Chile and Argentina