chile

1 of 2

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

chili

2 of 2

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

Salad-sized shrimp coated in chipotle chile and garlic powder ensure each bite is bursting with flavor and full of shrimp. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 June 2026

Chongqing-style chicken rustling with red chiles, mapo tofu and gentle Hainan chicken rice check boxes for mass appeal. —Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026

Noun

Up first, the pink, proud and spicy Cranstonian ($16), a bold sip featuring Dos Hombres Mezcal, cranberry juice, fresh lime and Aperol, finished with a chili salt rim. —Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 June 2026

On the menu, respectively, these cultures are highlighted in the shrimp Mozambique with chili and lemon; duck rice with chorizo and saffron; and piri piri chicken. —Jillian Dara, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Spanish chile, from Nahuatl chīlli

First Known Use

Noun (2)

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing chile

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

Rhymes for chile

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