château

noun

châ·​teau sha-ˈtō How to pronounce château (audio)
plural châteaus sha-ˈtōz How to pronounce château (audio) or châteaux sha-ˈtō(z) How to pronounce château (audio)
Synonyms of châteaunext
1
: a feudal castle or fortress in France
2
: a large country house : mansion
3
: a French vineyard estate

Examples of château in a Sentence

a gorgeous château on a hill
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Since 1986 it has been owned by the Primat family; daughter of the family, Garance Primat, first oversaw the world class restoration of the ancient chateau and original farm buildings. Lydia Bell, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026 In addition to his 152-foot yacht and an art collection including works by Picasso and Miro, the couturier owned a 17th century chateau near Paris with a garden said to boast more than a million roses. Jenny Barchfield, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026 In addition to his 152-foot yacht and an art collection including works by Picasso and Miro, the couturier owned a 17th-century chateau near Paris with a garden said to boast more than a million roses. CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026 Markle and Harry’s sprawling chateau is a worthy counterpart to the grand royal estates that sit across the pond. Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026 Set within 32 acres of cypress trees, jasmine, and other lush fauna, the 5,000-square-foot chateau offers up 86 rooms and suites, a private beach club with direct beach access, two pools, and a mini farm. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2026 The chateau is steeped in history. Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026 According to the hotel’s website, the Château de la Messardière was built in the 19th century by a wealthy cognac merchant named Gabriel Dupuy d’Angeac, who then gave the chateau to his daughter Louise and her husband as a wedding gift. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 9 Jan. 2026 In the eight new episodes, Daphne and Ian will work on pivotal rooms for their businesses including a honeymoon suite in the dove tower, a tea salon, a dungeon tavern and a library, in addition to restoring the chateau’s gatehouse as a residence for Daphne’s granny. Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 16 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French chastel, Latin castellum fortress

First Known Use

1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of château was in 1720

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Château.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ch%C3%A2teau. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

château

noun
châ·​teau sha-ˈtō How to pronounce château (audio)
plural châteaus -ˈtōz How to pronounce château (audio) or châteaux -ˈtō(z) How to pronounce château (audio)
: a castle or a large country house especially in France
Etymology

French, from early French chastel "castle," from Latin castellum "fortress" — related to castle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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