variants
or less commonly chile
or chiefly British chilli
plural chilies also chiles or chilis or chiefly British chillies
1
a
or chili pepper
: a hot pepper of any of a group of cultivars (Capsicum annuum annuum group longum) noted for their pungency
b
chiefly British chilli
: a pepper whether hot or sweet
2
a
: a thick sauce of meat and chilies
liked to cover her spaghetti with red chili
b
: chili con carne
a bowl of chili
also
: a similar dish made without beef
vegetarian chili
seafood chili
Examples of chili in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Like cleaning blue fabric dye out of a giant chili pot.
—
Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, stir together the honey, chili-garlic sauce, and olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until heated through and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
—Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
The menu features a chili recipe inspired by the San Antonio Chili Queens some 130 years ago, and the name of the restaurant is inspired by the Pennsylvania diner where owner Bryan McVay learned to cook as a teen.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 1 Apr. 2026
During the Age of Discovery, Europeans brought back from the Americas species of capsicum peppers and chili peppers.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chili
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Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, stir together the honey, chili-garlic sauce, and olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until heated through and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
—Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
The menu features a chili recipe inspired by the San Antonio Chili Queens some 130 years ago, and the name of the restaurant is inspired by the Pennsylvania diner where owner Bryan McVay learned to cook as a teen.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 1 Apr. 2026
During the Age of Discovery, Europeans brought back from the Americas species of capsicum peppers and chili peppers.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chili
Cite this Entry
“Chili.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chili. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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