chimera: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Literary
Quick answer
What does “chimera” mean?
A fire-breathing monster from Greek mythology with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail. By extension, any imaginary or fantastical creature.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fire-breathing monster from Greek mythology with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail. By extension, any imaginary or fantastical creature.
A thing that is hoped or wished for but is in fact illusory or impossible to achieve. Also, a single organism composed of genetically distinct tissues (a biological phenomenon).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences. The British spelling is often 'chimera', while the American is sometimes 'chimaera', though the former is prevalent in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical across both varieties.
Frequency
Used with similar, low frequency in both formal and academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “chimera” in a Sentence
the chimera of [abstract noun]a chimera composed of [elements]pursue/chase a chimeraVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chimera” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not a standard verb form.
American English
- Not a standard verb form.
adverb
British English
- Not a standard adverb form.
American English
- Not a standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- The chimera creature was described in detail.
- They proposed a chimera plan that was utterly impractical.
American English
- The research involved chimera embryos.
- His chimera scheme for instant wealth was laughable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used critically to describe an unrealistic business goal or financial model ('Their profit projections were a chimera').
Academic
Common in literary criticism, philosophy, and genetics ('The author deconstructs the chimera of national identity').
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Might be used metaphorically for a hopeless dream.
Technical
Specific term in genetics for an organism with cells from different zygotes.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chimera”
- Misspelling as 'chimaira' or 'chimaera'.
- Mispronunciation with a 'ch' as in 'church' (/tʃ/). Correct is /k/.
- Using it to mean a simple 'problem' rather than an 'impossible fantasy'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The initial sound is a hard 'k' (/k/), not a 'ch' as in 'choose'. In British English, it's /kaɪˈmɪərə/. In American English, it's commonly /kɪˈmɪrə/ or /kaɪˈmɪrə/.
Rarely. It typically carries a negative or cautionary connotation, implying something is deceptive, illusory, or impossibly fantastical. A 'chimera' is not a solid goal.
A 'hybrid' is a real, often functional mix (e.g., a hybrid car, a hybrid plant). A 'chimera' emphasizes the fantastical, mythical, or genetically distinct (at the cellular level) nature of the combination.
No, it is a low-frequency word primarily found in formal, academic, literary, or scientific contexts. In everyday conversation, words like 'fantasy', 'dream', or 'illusion' are more common.
A fire-breathing monster from Greek mythology with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail. By extension, any imaginary or fantastical creature.
Chimera is usually formal, academic, literary in register.
Chimera: in British English it is pronounced /kaɪˈmɪərə/, and in American English it is pronounced /kɪˈmɪrə/ or /kaɪˈmɪrə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “chase a chimera”
- “a chimera of the mind”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'CHIMERA' = 'CHIMney' + 'ERA'. Imagine a fantastical beast living in a chimney from a different ERA—it's a mythical blend.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOPE/GOAL IS A FANTASY CREATURE (an elusive, impossible-to-catch being).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'chimera' used as a precise technical term?