mantel

noun

man·​tel ˈman-tᵊl 

1

a

: a beam, stone, or arch serving as a lintel to support the masonry above a fireplace

b

: the finish around a fireplace

2

: a shelf above a fireplace

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Mantle vs. Mantel

Keeping mantel and mantle straight is relatively simple.

Mantel in modern English largely does one job: it refers to the shelf above a fireplace. You can remember it by thinking of the "el" in both mantel and shelf.

Mantle on the other hand, does many jobs, including a number that are technical or scientific. Its most common uses are to refer to a literal cloak, mostly of the kind worn in days of yore ("she drew her mantle tighter"), and to a figurative cloak symbolizing authority or importance ("taking on the mantle of the museum's directorship"). It also refers to a general covering in literary uses like "wet earth covered in a mantle of leaves" or "a past shrouded in a mantle of secrecy." And it's also the term for the middle layer of the Earth between the crust and the inner core.

There is, however, a catch to these distinctions: mantle is sometimes used (especially in American English) to refer to the shelf above a fireplace as well—that is, as a synonym of mantel.

This isn't terribly surprising, given the histories of the words. They both derive from the Latin word mantellum, which refers both to a cloak and to a beam or stone supporting the masonry above a fireplace. The words came into use in English a couple centuries apart, but were for a time in the past nothing more than spelling variants.

While it's certainly simpler to use mantle in all cases, mantel is significantly more common as the choice for the shelf, which means it's the safer choice in those cases.

Examples of mantel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Start with the ceiling fan and cobwebs in the corners, then move on to bookshelves and mantels, and work down from there. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025

The famed 5,600-square-foot town house maintains its 19th-century allure; what remains intact from the 1800s is the original brick exterior, exposed beam ceilings, crown moldings, vintage wood cabinetry, and a fireplace with grand marble mantels. —Architectural Digest, 16 Dec. 2025

The surviving rows still sit on the mantel. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 Dec. 2025

Make one large tree, or arrange a collection of smaller trees on your mantel or down the center of your holiday tabe as a festive centerpiece. —Grace Gallagher, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, mantle

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for mantel

• santal
• dismantle

Kids Definition

mantel

noun

man·​tel ˈmant-ᵊl 

: the beam, stone, arch, or shelf above a fireplace