habanero

noun

ha·​ba·​ne·​ro ˌ(h)ä-bə-ˈn(y)er-ō 

variants or less commonly habañero

: a very hot roundish chili pepper (Capsicum chinense) that is usually orange when mature

Examples of habanero in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike most fruity orange sauces, the Pickled Prince version isn’t sugar-forward — kumquats have the perfect mixture of sweet punch and pucker to complement the habanero. —Ahmed Ali Akbar, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025

The pickled habanero onion and tropical vinaigrette bring a zing that wakes up your palate, while the crispy tortilla bowl adds just the right crunch. —Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025

Measuring between 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), the peppers are spicier than cayenne and serrano peppers but fall below habanero peppers. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2025

In a 2015 taste test of hot sauces (from Tapatío to habanero) for this paper with former food editor Amy Scattergood, Gold, Harris and chef judges Roy Choi and Alvin Cailan, Lao Gan Ma’s chili crisp was the winner. —Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish (chile) habanero, literally, Havanan chili

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for habanero

• boro
• burro
• burrough
• burrow
• furrow
• thorough
• yarborough