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

In 2021, Corto released its first Agrumato-method oil, its inaugural Calabrian chili flavor. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Continue reading … PICKLED PANIC — Woman's horrifying discovery inside jar of chili peppers prompts recall. — FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Ancho & Agave served a dozen frozen margarita flavors, chicken asada street tacos, chili lime shrimp quesadillas, carnitas enchiladas, birria and more. — Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

This faux chili berry wreath trades the usual suspects for petite burgundy and pink berries and chartreuse leaves. — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 28 Sep. 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 oil
• chili powder
• chili sauce
• chili verde
• 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