chapter

noun

chap·​ter ˈchap-tər 

1

a

: a main division of a book

b

: something resembling a chapter in being a significant specified unit

a new chapter in my life

2

a

: a regular meeting of the canons of a cathedral or collegiate church or of the members of a religious house

b

: the body of canons of a cathedral or collegiate church

3

: a local branch of an organization

Synonyms

• affiliate
• branch
• cell
• council
• local

Examples of chapter in a Sentence

Chapter three deals with the country's economy.

Please read the first two chapters of your textbook for our next class.

Becoming a parent opened up a whole new chapter in my life.

a difficult chapter in European history

Recent Examples on the Web

We are simultaneously devastated and honored to have witnessed the last chapter of Jerry West’s career. —Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 12 June 2024

Former workers at the hotel, represented by a chapter of UNITE HERE Local 2, put pressure on the city last month to take further action against Radisson. —Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 11 June 2024

So many people have three chapters of a novel sitting at their computer somewhere. —Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Glamour, 11 June 2024

For the president, the trial of his son represents nothing less than the latest chapter in a life marked by tragedy. —Linda Feldmann, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chapitre, from Anglo-French chapitre, chapitle, from Late Latin capitulum division of a book & Medieval Latin, meeting place of canons, from Latin, diminutive of capit-, caput head — more at head

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing chapter

• a chapter of accidents
• chapter and verse
• sub-chapter

Kids Definition

chapter

noun

chap·​ter ˈchap-tər 

1

a

: a main division of a book or of a law code

b

: something like a chapter in being a significant unit

a chapter in my life

2

: a local branch of an organization