chile

1 of 3

noun (1)

variant spelling of chili

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

chile

2 of 3

pronunciation spelling

ˈchī(-ə)l 

—used for "child" chiefly in spoken African American English especially of the southern U.S. and in written representations of such speech

… sources close to the situation have said that the "Love on the Brain" singer is remaining in Barbados while awaiting the birth of her first chile, as Newsweek also notes.

—Shanelle Genai

—often used as an affectionate or friendly way of addressing someone

"Chile, no one looks great this early in the morning," [Debbie] Allen [actress] replied with a chuckle, thanking her.

—Tonja Renée Stidhum

The couple shared the amazing news on Instagram, and chile … that ring is everything!

—Jasmine Grant

[Nikole] Hannah-Jones [investigative journalist] decided the best response would be to quote King accurately by reading excerpts of his speeches without mentioning explicitly that they were his words. "And, whew, chile, it was AMAZING," she said.

—David Moye

chili

3 of 3

noun (2)

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 chile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Paired with morsels of fresh red snapper and Habanada chile pepper passata, the pasta rests in a velvety sauce with a glossy drizzle of herb oil and a flurry of fresh herbs. — Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 6 Sep. 2026

The beef or turkey burger with green chiles and pepper jack cheese (about $7) is one of the better choices on the menu. — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026

Noun

Soups Diced watermelon rinds can add a satisfying crunch to a variety of soups, stews, or chilis. — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 10 Sep. 2026

Written by Helstad, the film follows Jessica Lipki (Greer), a small-town lawyer who discovers a severed human finger in her bowl of chili at a regionally beloved fast-food chain. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Spanish chile, from Nahuatl chīlli

First Known Use

Pronunciation Spelling

1839, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing chile

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

Rhymes for chile

• bacilli
• tranquilly
• billie
• billy
• chilli
• chilly
• dilly
• filly
• frilly
• gillie
• gilly
• hilly

Geographical Definition

Chile 1 of 2

geographical name (1)

Chi·​le ˈchē-(ˌ)lā  ˈchi-lē 

long, narrow country of southwestern South America between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific; a republic whose capital is Santiago and whose legislative capital is Valparaíso area 291,933 square miles (756,102 square kilometers)

Chilean

chə-ˈlā-ən  ˈchi-lē-ən 

adjective or noun

Chili

2 of 2

geographical name (2)

ˈchi-lē 

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