chair rail
noun
plural chair rails
: a molding on a wall around a room to protect the wall from being damaged by the backs of chairs
… had removed the chair rail, thereby eliminating the dado effect …—
Elizabeth Lambert
Elizabeth LambertExamples of chair rail in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There are many ways to approach this layering technique. ’80s and ’90s kids will remember the look of two wallpapers divided by a chair rail; to replicate this look in a more modern way, choose a large print for the bottom and a small one for the top.
—Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Jan. 2026
The wainscoting started at the base of the wall and went up to a chair rail height.
—Sirena Bergman, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
The kitchen is next to the formal dining room, which features more shadow boxing wall treatments under a chair rail, a crown molding, and the gracefully arched passageway to the entry hall.
—James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Jan. 2026
The wainscoting started at the base of the wall and went up to a chair rail height.
—Sirena Bergman, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
The kitchen is next to the formal dining room, which features more shadow boxing wall treatments under a chair rail, a crown molding, and the gracefully arched passageway to the entry hall.
—James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chair rail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chair%20rail. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
