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Definition of enchilada

enchilada

/ˌɛntʃɪˈlɑːdə/
en · chi · la · da
Plural:enchiladas
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enchilada Lexical Profile

enchilada Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A Mexican dish consisting of a corn tortilla rolled around a filling, such as meat, cheese, or beans, and covered with a savory chili sauce.

Example

"We visited a local Mexican restaurant and shared a plate of chicken enchiladas topped with melted cheese and fresh cilantro."

2

American The entirety of something, typically used in the idiomatic phrase 'the whole enchilada'.

Example

"He did not just want a small promotion; he was aiming for the executive suite, the corner office, the whole enchilada."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for enchilada
Antonyms
View all antonyms for enchilada

• Rhymes for enchilada

• Nearby Words

emu
emutail
encelia
enchilada
endive
endocortex
endothorax

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Mexican Spanish 'enchilada', the feminine past participle of 'enchilar' (to season with chili), formed from 'en-' (in) + 'chile' (chili) + '-ada' (participle suffix).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Enchilada. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/enchilada
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