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 DuBois

Illustration of chrysalis

• chrysalis 1

Examples of chrysalis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Studying design in Milan became her chrysalis. —Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 10 Dec. 2025

Echoing Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s 1968 covering of the institution, and reminiscent of Mahama’s contribution to Documenta 14 in 2017, this covering served as a chrysalis during the building’s physical transformation. —Edna Bonhomme, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025

From their perspective, a star is just a transitory stage, a chrysalis. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 24 Sep. 2025

Jess once encountered a transparent monarch chrysalis. —Bennet Goldstein, jsonline.com, 4 July 2025

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