chapeau

noun

cha·​peau sha-ˈpō 

shə-

plural chapeaus sha-ˈpōz 

shə-

or chapeaux sha-ˈpō(z) 

shə-

: hat sense 1

Vaughn has even brought in a French chapeau to participate in Funny Hat Day …

—Jack McCallum

Her most offbeat chapeau is a bouquet of silk roses turned upside down.

—Elle

… the fine-looking, bearded officer, who had so courteously doffed his chapeau to our Captain …

—Herman Melville

The chapeau has, after years of promising to do so, actually slid back into fashion's vernacular …

—Elle

Synonyms

• cap
• hat
• headdress
• headgear
• headpiece
• lid [slang]

Examples of chapeau in a Sentence

with her chapeau cocked jauntily to one side, the French actress was the very picture of Gallic insouciance

Recent Examples on the Web

Zendaya’s hair was pulled back into a sleek bun beneath her cream chapeau. —Danielle Directo-Meston, HollywoodReporter, 5 May 2025

Angela Bassett makes a statement with a cane and chapeau combo. —Elise Wrabetz, NBC news, 5 May 2025

Bündchen completed the look with a wide-brimmed chapeau and oversized shades. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2025

As for her accessories, Padukone carried a black, top-handle bag and added a white chapeau with a wide brim to her attire. —Julia Teti, WWD, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Old French chapel — more at chaplet

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chapeau

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo