chili

American  

[chil-ee] / ˈtʃɪl i /

especially British, chilli

noun

chilies plural

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

Add the chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano and cayenne.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

Stir in the remaining can of fire-roasted tomatoes, the chili beans and the seared steak along with any juices collected on the plate.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

And at times “Kenrex” verges on caricature in its depiction of rural life as a lawless Wild Midwest, garnished by such down-home delicacies as “a deep fried barbecue chili cheese dog with bacon crumbles.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

He also shared his favorite chili, which isn’t hot for the sake of being hot.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

A charred, sugary stench tangled with Dad’s chili.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas