chorizo

American

[chuh-ree-zoh, chaw-ree-saw, -thaw] / tʃəˈri zoʊ, tʃɔˈri sɔ, -θɔ /

noun

Spanish Cooking.

plural

chorizos

a pork sausage spiced with garlic, peppers, and juniper berries and smoked and dried.

chorizo British

/ tʃɔːˈriːzəʊ /

noun

a kind of highly seasoned pork sausage of Spain or Mexico

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of chorizo

From Spanish, of uncertain origin

Compare meaning

How does chorizo compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

chorizo vs. sausage

Vocabulary lists containing chorizo

World Cuisine - Introductory

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World Cuisine - Middle School and High School

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But when I make them from scratch — quickly, without ceremony — I reach for fresh chorizo and ricotta.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026

So fill your pantry with fish sauce caramel corn, vegan chorizo Chex mix, cult-favorite bar nuts and a top-notch burnt olive ranch dip—and your shot glasses with perfect pairings for each.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

We brunched on the restaurant’s chorizo omelet, braised beef empanadas and a towering lemon berry French toast.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 16, 2025

Scatter generously over the chorizo for contrast, support and delightful crackle.

From Salon • Aug. 5, 2025

Instead I’m locked in a small room that smells like chorizo and stale popcorn while my archenemy continues to brainwash the community with reggaeton and free sunscreen.

From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023