: the part of a garment that is turned back
specifically
: the fold of the front of a coat that is usually a continuation of the collar
Examples of lapel in a Sentence
He wore a carnation in his lapel.
Recent Examples on the Web
Prince William matched his wife’s red carpet attire with a velvety tuxedo jacket with sharp lapels.
—
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 23 Feb. 2026
William wore a maroon velvet tuxedo jacket with black lapels.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026
This short trench with a lapel collar is a prime example of one, and the dark brown colorway is so chic and versatile.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 19 Feb. 2026
The Council of Fashion Designers of America partnered with the American Civil Liberties Union to support the ICE OUT campaign, and a handful of show attendees and designers sported the button on their lapels.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lapel
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Julia Teti, Footwear News, 23 Feb. 2026
William wore a maroon velvet tuxedo jacket with black lapels.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026
This short trench with a lapel collar is a prime example of one, and the dark brown colorway is so chic and versatile.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 19 Feb. 2026
The Council of Fashion Designers of America partnered with the American Civil Liberties Union to support the ICE OUT campaign, and a handful of show attendees and designers sported the button on their lapels.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lapel
Cite this Entry
“Lapel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lapel. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lapel
noun
la·pel
lə-ˈpel 
: the fold of the front of a coat that is usually a part of the collar
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