chocolate

noun

choc·​o·​late ˈchä-k(ə-)lət How to pronounce chocolate (audio) ˈchȯ- How to pronounce chocolate (audio)
1
: a beverage made by mixing chocolate with water or milk
The boy stirred the chocolate before drinking it.
2
: a food prepared from ground roasted cacao beans
The cake recipe calls for four squares of chocolate.
3
: a small candy with a center (such as a fondant) and a chocolate coating
gave her a box of chocolates
4
: a brownish gray
The bird's plumage was a shade of chocolate.
chocolate adjective

Examples of chocolate in a Sentence

The cake recipe calls for four squares of chocolate. She gave me a box of chocolates for my birthday.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Viking's Chocolate Sundae: Features vanilla soft-serve with Hershey's chocolate syrup and black and green cookie crumbles. Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 23 May 2025 Process chocolate sandwich cookies into fine crumbs in a food processor, about 45 seconds. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 22 May 2025 Gourmet cupcake flavors include cookies & cream, strawberry shortcake, strawberry explosion, red velvet, and chocolate caramel brownie. Pamela Brown, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2025 What To Know The affected products consist of 2.5oz and 3.5oz chocolate croissants, 2.5oz and 3.5oz raspberry croissants, and croissant buns sold fully baked and frozen in foodservice cases of 24 units. Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for chocolate

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Nahuatl chocolātl, probably an alteration of eastern Nahuatl dialect chikolātl, from chikolli hook (probably used to refer to the beater used to mix chocolate with water) + ātl water, liquid

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chocolate was in 1604

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chocolate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chocolate. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

chocolate

noun
choc·​o·​late ˈchäk-(ə-)lət How to pronounce chocolate (audio) ˈchȯk- How to pronounce chocolate (audio)
1
: a beverage of chocolate in water or milk
2
: a food prepared from ground roasted cacao beans
3
: a candy made of or coated with chocolate
4
: a brownish gray
chocolate adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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