chrysalis

noun

chrys·​a·​lis ˈkri-sə-ləs 

plural chrysalides kri-ˈsa-lə-ˌdēz  or chrysalises

1

a

: a pupa of a butterfly

broadly : an insect pupa

b

: the hardened outer protective layer of a pupa

2

: a protecting covering

also : a sheltered state or stage of being or growth

… a budding writer could not emerge from his chrysalis too soon.

—William Du Bois

Illustration of chrysalis

• chrysalis 1

Examples of chrysalis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The password was another meaningful detail — chrysalis — referring to the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, a wink to Paige’s own transformation and rebirth. —Mary Gillen, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019

Every day, visitors can watch butterflies and moths that have just emerged from their chrysalises take their first flight into the haven. —Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025

The boy debates the merit of each name: on the one hand, chrysalides are green and hard and prone to explode in riots of incandescence; on the other, parrots are green, loud, and obnoxious. —Beth Bachmann, The New Yorker, 25 July 2024

After the larval stage, the caterpillar forms a chrysalis in a sheltered location. —Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 12 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin chrȳsallid-, chrȳsallis, borrowed from Greek chrȳsallid-, chrȳsallís, from chrȳsós "gold" (referring to the metallic gold-like sheen of some butterfly pupae) + -allid-, -allis, noun suffix of some plant and animal names — more at chryso-

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

chrysalis

noun

chrys·​a·​lis ˈkris-ə-ləs 

plural chrysalides kris-ˈal-ə-ˌdēz  or chrysalises

ˈkris-ə-lə-səz

: the pupa of a butterfly or moth

also : the hardened outer layer of such a pupa compare cocoon sense 1