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.
Stepping out in the city for the EE72 Magazine launch party at The Cut restaurant, Sánchez-Bezos wore a silvery mini slip dress, with a chocolate brown leather jacket with wide lapels and black buttons floating loosely around her shoulders. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2025 The original doughnuts are covered in a rich chocolate sauce and first made their appearance on the Krispy Kreme menu last year, according to a Krispy Kreme news release. Greta Cross, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025 The Hershey's Foods logo is shown at the unveiling of the world's largest Hershey's Kisses chocolate at the Metropolitan Pavilion July 31, 2003, in New York City. Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025 The Snickers bars add chocolate, caramel, and peanut notes. Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 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 17 Sep. 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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