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

So, this is why, like, capsaicin and chili peppers have this heat sensation because the heat sensing neurons that also respond to capsaicin expressed this one protein. — Quanta Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026

Add the basil chiffonade and chili flake, and let bloom for 20-30 seconds, until fragrant. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

Both restaurants normally include jalapeños in their guacamole, pico de gallo and chili-corn salsas. — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Jalapeños are in a number of menu items at the restaurant chain, including chili-corn salsa, pico de gallo and guacamole. — Lily Alvino, NBC news, 4 Aug. 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