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 facility’s beef chili and cheese sauce were not reheated properly. —Sarah Linn, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025

October marks Cincinnati chili's 103rd anniversary. —David Wysong, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2025

Taking place in the heart of Queen Creek, highlights include chili tasting, rides, games, a pumpkin patch, live entertainment, shopping with local vendors and of course a corn maze. —Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025

Plus, tacos come with a packet of avocado verde salsa, which is made of tomatillos, green chili peppers and avocado. —Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025

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 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