chapel

noun

chap·​el ˈcha-pəl 

1

: a subordinate or private place of worship: such as

a

: a place of worship serving a residence or institution

b

: a small house of worship usually associated with a main church

c

: a room or recess in a church for meditation and prayer or small religious services

2

: a place of worship used by a Christian group other than an established church

a nonconformist chapel

3

: a choir of singers belonging to a chapel

4

: a chapel service or assembly at a school or college

5

: an association of the employees in a printing office

6

a

: funeral home

b

: a room for funeral services in a funeral home

Did you know?

Chapel is ultimately derived from the Late Latin word cappa, meaning "cloak." How did we get from a garment to a building? The answer to this question has to do with a shrine created to hold the sacred cloak of St. Martin of Tours. In Medieval Latin, this shrine was called cappella (from a diminutive of cappa, meaning "short cloak or cape") in reference to the relic it contained. Later, the meaning of cappella broadened to include any building that housed a sacred relic, and eventually to a place of worship. Anglo-French picked up the term as chapele, which in turn passed into English as chapel in the 13th century. In case you are wondering, the term a cappella, meaning "without instrumental accompaniment," entered English from Italian, where it literally means "in chapel style."

Examples of chapel in a Sentence

a wedding chapel in Las Vegas

Church services will be held in the chapel this week.

Recent Examples on the Web

The church, slated to be finished in 2027, will feature a chapel with 27 pews, offices, meeting rooms, a small kitchen and a basketball court that can be transformed into a volleyball court, according to development planning documents. — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026

Before the latest headlines, Combs had been reportedly on his best behavior; with the legal team consistently praised him for working in the chapel library and participating in a drug rehabilitation program. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026

Its marble walkways and steep stone alleys wind past striking old chapels, small art galleries, and terraces that frame sought-after sunset views. — Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2026

Visitors can poke around in buildings like the soldiers’ barracks, the hospital, the officers’ quarters, and the Catholic chapel, many of which contain period artifacts and informative exhibits. — Allison Savage Bates, Denver Post, 19 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French chapele, from Medieval Latin cappella, from diminutive of Late Latin cappa cloak; from the cloak of St. Martin of Tours preserved as a sacred relic in a chapel built for that purpose

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chapel

• chapel of ease
• lady chapel

Rhymes for chapel

• appal
• apple
• dapple
• grapple
• pineapple

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Kids Definition

chapel

noun

chap·​el ˈchap-əl 

1

: a building or place for prayer or special religious services

2

: a religious service or assembly at a school or college

Etymology

Middle English chapel "chapel," from early French chapele (same meaning), from Latin cappella "chapel," literally, "little cloak," from cappa "cloak, head covering"; so called from the structure built to house a revered cloak of Saint Martin of Tours — related to cape entry 2, chaperone