chocolate

noun

choc·​o·​late ˈchä-k(ə-)lət  ˈchȯ- 

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

Top-handle bags have long been a staple of Kate Middleton’s capsule wardrobe — and the Princess of Wales just added a new chocolate brown suede style to her growing collection. —Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026

These come in a pretty off-white champagne color, along with a cool purple, chocolate brown, and greige (grayish beige). —Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026

The key is to reach for ones that are not loaded up with sugar; enter RX, a clean protein bar made from egg whites, dates, and nuts that pack in 12-18 grams of protein per bar in appealing recipes like chocolate sea salt, peanut butter, coconut chocolate, blueberry, and more. —Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Jan. 2026

Yes, these cowboy cookies are even more popular among BHG readers than classic chocolate chips. —Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026

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

Phrases Containing chocolate

• baker's chocolate
• baking chocolate
• chocolate-box
• chocolate chip cookie
• dark chocolate
• hot chocolate
• milk chocolate
• plain chocolate
• sweet chocolate
• white chocolate

Kids Definition

chocolate

noun

choc·​o·​late ˈchäk-(ə-)lət  ˈchȯk- 

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