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Definition of chowder
chowder
/ˈtʃaʊdər/
chow · der
Plural:chowders
chowder Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
4
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
chowder Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
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WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
North American A rich, thick soup or stew typically containing seafood (such as clams or fish), potatoes, onions, and either a milk, cream, or tomato base.
Example
"We warmed up after the brisk boat ride with a hearty bowl of New England clam chowder."
2
North American A thick soup made with corn, potatoes, and other vegetables, often prepared without seafood.
Example
"The chef prepared a vegetarian sweet corn chowder garnished with fresh chives."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for chowder• Rhymes for chowder
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Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the French word 'chaudière', meaning 'cauldron' or 'pot', referring to the vessel in which Breton fishermen traditionally cooked their stews before bringing the custom to North America.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Chowder. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 18, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/chowder