chapel

noun

chap·​el ˈcha-pəl 

1

: a subordinate or private place of worship: such as

a

: a place of worship serving a residence or institution

b

: a small house of worship usually associated with a main church

c

: a room or recess in a church for meditation and prayer or small religious services

2

: a place of worship used by a Christian group other than an established church

a nonconformist chapel

3

: a choir of singers belonging to a chapel

4

: a chapel service or assembly at a school or college

5

: an association of the employees in a printing office

6

a

: funeral home

b

: a room for funeral services in a funeral home

Did you know?

Chapel is ultimately derived from the Late Latin word cappa, meaning "cloak." How did we get from a garment to a building? The answer to this question has to do with a shrine created to hold the sacred cloak of St. Martin of Tours. In Medieval Latin, this shrine was called cappella (from a diminutive of cappa, meaning "short cloak or cape") in reference to the relic it contained. Later, the meaning of cappella broadened to include any building that housed a sacred relic, and eventually to a place of worship. Anglo-French picked up the term as chapele, which in turn passed into English as chapel in the 13th century. In case you are wondering, the term a cappella, meaning "without instrumental accompaniment," entered English from Italian, where it literally means "in chapel style."

Examples of chapel in a Sentence

a wedding chapel in Las Vegas

Church services will be held in the chapel this week.

Recent Examples on the Web

Gwen Stefani Shares Sweet ‘Oklahoma Life’ Moments with Blake Shelton — and Gives a Peek at Their Easter Decor Shelton and Stefani tied the knot in a backyard chapel on their ranch in July 2021. —Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024

She was buried alongside her son in a chapel at the abbey. —Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024

As the chaos dissipated, the smell of pepper spray in the chapel still lingered, so the ceremony was moved into the foyer. —Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024

The chapel had started fundraising after its closure, but the amount raised remain in the tens of thousands. —Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

El Panteón Nacional de los Héroes, an opulent chapel, is the resting place of leaders both revered and reviled. —Laurence Blair, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024

The chapel was so old that creaks shuttered across the floor like lightning. —Frederick Kaufman, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024

Yoga sessions will take place in the old chapel or in a yurt; room options range from the main house to more rustic shepherds’ huts and cabins in the grounds. —Emma Love, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2024

Built in 1910, the stately brick building was used as a chapel and gathering place for generations. —Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French chapele, from Medieval Latin cappella, from diminutive of Late Latin cappa cloak; from the cloak of St. Martin of Tours preserved as a sacred relic in a chapel built for that purpose

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chapel

• chapel of ease
• lady chapel

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

chapel

noun

chap·​el ˈchap-əl 

1

: a building or place for prayer or special religious services

2

: a religious service or assembly at a school or college

Etymology

Middle English chapel "chapel," from early French chapele (same meaning), from Latin cappella "chapel," literally, "little cloak," from cappa "cloak, head covering"; so called from the structure built to house a revered cloak of Saint Martin of Tours — related to cape entry 2, chaperone