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)
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.
The National Park Service closed the chateau in 2018 due to a need for extensive repairs. Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 Last year, the chateau hosted 60 guests and generated $22,000 in revenue, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. Valentina Duarte celia Fernandez, CNBC, 29 June 2025 But close to daybreak, a German warplane bombed the chateau, leaving a crater in the earth and a trail of carnage. Amy Sohn, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025 This French-style chateau, built as a summer residence for financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn, sits on the highest peak in Long Island. Michele Herrmann, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025 Glenfiddich created the category and elevated it, talking about 'single chateau' and 'single malt,' putting it on a pedestal. Noel Burgess, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025 Just 20 minutes from Cannes by car or boat, guests will appreciate the chateau’s quiet location, a private beach, and a boho-chic seaside spa. Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025 This retreat, says André Delisle, director of the historic site and museum at the chateau, was a strategic decision for Carleton and the British, who regrouped to make a final stand in the capital of Quebec City. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 May 2025 The list of endangered sites includes a resort in New York's Catskill Mountains, a chateau in Arizona and several communities in North Carolina still struggling after last year's Hurricane Helene. Deborah Barfield Berry, USA Today, 8 May 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

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Cite this Entry

“Château.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ch%C3%A2teau. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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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