chicory

noun

chic·​o·​ry ˈchi-k(ə-)rē How to pronounce chicory (audio)
variants or less commonly chickory
plural chicories
1
: a thick-rooted usually blue-flowered European perennial composite herb (Cichorium intybus) widely grown for its roots and as a salad plant compare belgian endive, radicchio
2
: the dried ground roasted root of chicory used to flavor or adulterate coffee

Examples of chicory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many products are made with ingredients like chicory root, soluble tapioca fiber or corn fiber. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026 It’s served as a deconstructed Caesar salad, with a heap of bone-in chicken crowded next to fuchsia chicories and croutons. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 Many of these products are made with ingredients like chicory root, which contains inulin, or soluble tapioca and corn fiber. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026 Rather, Rainbow is closer to a farmer's market than a supermarket; the chicories are dewy, the chanterelles are dusted with decaying leaves, and the beets are messy with earth. — Michael Calore, Wired News, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for chicory

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English cicoree, from Anglo-French, from Latin cichoreum, from Greek kichoreia

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chicory was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Chicopee
chicory
chicory family
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chicory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chicory. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

chicory

noun
chic·​o·​ry ˈchik-(ə-)rē How to pronounce chicory (audio)
plural chicories
: a thick-rooted usually blue-flowered European herb related to the daisies and grown for its roots and as a salad plant
also : its dried ground roasted root that is sometimes added to coffee

More from Merriam-Webster on chicory

Nglish: Translation of chicory for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chicory

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