chili

American  

[chil-ee] / ˈtʃɪl i /

especially British, chilli

noun

plural

chilies

1. Sometimes chile a hearty stew that is also used as a topping condiment on other dishes and has varied recipes and ingredients, with or without meat, ultimately derived from the Mexican-style chili con carne.

2. chili con carne.

3. chile.

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Etymology

Origin of chili

First recorded in 1655–65; from Mexican Spanish chile, from Nahuatl chīlli “chile pepper”

Explanation

A chili is a pungent, spicy pepper, and it's also the name of a delicious stew made of meat and beans that's flavored with chili powder. A chili, or chili pepper, is actually the berry of a Capsicum plant. Both fresh and dried chilis are used to add some heat and spice to all kinds of dishes, from Mexican mole to Indian curry and Thai stir-fry. They're also an important ingredient in chili con carne, the spicy stew whose name is often shortened to chili. The word derives from the Aztec chilli, "spicy pepper."

Example Sentences

Their findings, published in Volume 18, Issue 3 of the journal Nutrients, focused on compounds commonly found in mint, eucalyptus, and chili peppers.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

I made my request: an overloaded omelet stuffed with every possible vegetable and cheese, and seasoned with smoked paprika, chili powder, salt and pepper.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Certainly not for Angelenos, who know what defines their metropolis culinarily, from pupusas to Tommy’s chili burgers, from Persian food in West L.A. to regional Chinese cuisine in the San Gabriel Valley.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

Shortly after Meadow Lane opened, customers posted online about undercooked chicken nuggets; another shopper, who was lactose intolerant, said that she’d bought chili topped with cheese that wasn’t on the list of ingredients.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

To the right they passed patches of mangrove forest and small parcels of land, rice paddies, and chili pepper fields.

From "Tiger Boy" by Mitali Perkins