nacho

noun

na·​cho ˈnä-(ˌ)chō 

plural nachos

: a tortilla chip topped with melted cheese and often additional savory toppings (such as hot peppers or refried beans)

Examples of nacho in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This Doritos Chicken Casserole is a fun and kid-friendly take on a chicken casserole with salty, nacho flavor. —Brennan Long, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026

That would include foods like Fruity Pebbles or nacho cheese Doritos. —Kaitlin Lange, IndyStar, 2 Mar. 2026

The best part is that the sweet nacho chips stay crunchy, even with all the heavy fixings. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026

Teens between 14 and 18 years old were invited and will be provided a taco and nacho lunch. —Lauren Victory, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from Spanish Nacho, hypocoristic form of the personal name Ignacio

Note: According to a story that apparently first appeared in the San Antonio Express on May 23, 1954 ("Nacho's? Natch!", by Clarence D. LaRoche, p. 3H), the dish was devised in 1940 by Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya García (1895-1975), a waiter (in other versions a maitre d' or chef) at a restaurant in Piedras Negras, Mexico. As related by LaRoche and in later versions, the story has stock elements of a culinary origin myth: late in the day a waiter or chef is pressed to come up with food to satisfy hungry customers and with limited ingredients left in the kitchen invents a new dish. Similar stories purport to explain the origins of other eponymous dishes, as the Reuben sandwich, Buffalo wings and Caesar salad. Though a print connection between "Nacho" Anaya and nachos is relatively early—predating the popularity of the snack outside south Texas—the first citations for nacho, in 1948 and 1949, make no reference to him.

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

nacho

noun

na·​cho ˈnä-chō 

plural nachos

: a tortilla chip topped with melted cheese and often additional toppings (as hot peppers or refried beans)