chili
noun
ˈchi-lē 
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The chili was meat and plentiful, but there was little spice to cover up the saltiness of this small coney, which was over-cooked and mushy. 
cleveland, 19 July 2022 The chili goes on top of the cheese rather than underneath. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 8 June 2022 The chili is also loaded with beans, which contain lots of magnesium, a mineral that can help fight inflammation in the body after a long day of trekking. Jenny Mccoy, Outside Online, 8 Oct. 2020 The chili is hearty -- packed full of veggies and big chunks of meat. cleveland, 24 Feb. 2022 In addition to the five standard ways of serving the chili in Cincinnati, Becker suggests that two other typical options are a must. Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2022 Condado offers a mix of protein fillings that include tequila-lime steak, roasted chicken and vegetarian options of Thai chili tofu, roasted portobello and Korean BBQ Jackfruit. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 4 Mar. 2022 For those who like the heat in their chili: Jalapeño pepper, red pepper flakes, cayenne, paprika, ancho or chipotle chile powder and the sauce from canned chipotles in adobo are all on the guest list for this recipe from Pati Jinich. Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2022 Visitors can grab food at BJ's New Mexican Eats food truck, a concept which serves New Mexican chili. Sofia Krusmark, The Arizona Republic, 2 Mar. 2022 See More
cleveland, 19 July 2022 The chili goes on top of the cheese rather than underneath. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 8 June 2022 The chili is also loaded with beans, which contain lots of magnesium, a mineral that can help fight inflammation in the body after a long day of trekking. Jenny Mccoy, Outside Online, 8 Oct. 2020 The chili is hearty -- packed full of veggies and big chunks of meat. cleveland, 24 Feb. 2022 In addition to the five standard ways of serving the chili in Cincinnati, Becker suggests that two other typical options are a must. Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2022 Condado offers a mix of protein fillings that include tequila-lime steak, roasted chicken and vegetarian options of Thai chili tofu, roasted portobello and Korean BBQ Jackfruit. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 4 Mar. 2022 For those who like the heat in their chili: Jalapeño pepper, red pepper flakes, cayenne, paprika, ancho or chipotle chile powder and the sauce from canned chipotles in adobo are all on the guest list for this recipe from Pati Jinich. Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2022 Visitors can grab food at BJ's New Mexican Eats food truck, a concept which serves New Mexican chili. Sofia Krusmark, The Arizona Republic, 2 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Spanish chile, from Nahuatl chīlli
First Known Use
1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing chili
Kids Definition
chili
noun
variants also chile or chilli
ˈchi-lē
plural chilies also chiles or chilis or chillies
1
: a small pepper with a very hot flavor
2
: a spicy stew of ground beef and chilies usually with beans
Geographical Definition
Chili
geographical name
ˈchi-lē
—former, especially British name for Chile or for the once poorly defined Andes border region between Chile and Argentina