potato chip

American  

noun

1. a thin slice of potato fried until crisp and usually salted.

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potato chip British  

noun

1. (usually plural) another name for chip

2. Also called (in eg Britain): crisp.  (usually plural) a very thin slice of potato fried and eaten cold as a snack

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Etymology

Origin of potato chip

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

Japan's leading potato chip maker is feeling the crunch from shortages linked to the Iran war, swapping its signature orange-and-yellow packets for black and white.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

Removing that fiber from its natural habitat and putting it in a potato chip, for instance, can reduce the health benefits.

From MarketWatch • May 10, 2026

"I just pop it in my mouth like a potato chip," she said, adding that it feels like a "healthier alternative".

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

The company is adding more protein- and fiber-laden products and recently revamped its Lay’s potato chip brand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025

I have my eye on a potato chip factory a ten-minute drive from the Blue Haven, for example, or I can always search out L.L.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich