chili powder

American  

[chil-ee pou-der] / ˈtʃɪl i ˌpaʊ dər /

noun

1. a powdered seasoning of dried chiles, or a mixture of ground chiles with other spices, as cumin, oregano, garlic, etc.

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Etymology

Origin of chili powder

An Americanism dating back to 1955–60

Example Sentences

Chickpeas tossed with olive oil, harissa, garlic powder, chili powder, oregano, and an almost unreasonable amount of lemon zest.

From Salon • Jan. 13, 2026

He tinkered around with the idea and developed a flash-frozen burrito filled with beef, beans and red chili powder.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 26, 2025

As a child, I loved eating ribs doused in sweet tangy KC BBQ sauce made with molasses, acidic vinegar and spicy chili powder alongside my cousins.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2024

In a small saucepan, toast the chili powder, stirring, until fragrant; add the remaining berries, the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar, the pepper, salt and ¼ cup water.

From Washington Times • Jul. 13, 2023

Past green mangoes, cut and stuffed with turmeric and chili powder and tied together with twine.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy