: the part of a garment that is turned back
specifically
: the fold of the front of a coat that is usually a continuation of the collar
Examples of lapel in a Sentence
He wore a carnation in his lapel.
Recent Examples on the Web
Whether you're headed to the office or out for dinner with friends, this collared ribbed maxi nods to preppy style with its contrast trim, lapel neckline, and pleated fishtail hem.
—
Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2025
The jacket featured sharp lapels and a button at the waist.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 18 July 2025
Narrowed dramatically since ’78, along with the lapels.
—Stephen Colbert, New Yorker, 18 July 2025
Diehard Neiman fans can also find a more unexpected example of Neiman’s ties to fashion on eBay, where an autographed ivory-colored blazer with his signature on its lapel was being sold for $79,800 as of Friday afternoon.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lapel
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Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2025
The jacket featured sharp lapels and a button at the waist.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 18 July 2025
Narrowed dramatically since ’78, along with the lapels.
—Stephen Colbert, New Yorker, 18 July 2025
Diehard Neiman fans can also find a more unexpected example of Neiman’s ties to fashion on eBay, where an autographed ivory-colored blazer with his signature on its lapel was being sold for $79,800 as of Friday afternoon.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lapel
Cite this Entry
“Lapel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lapel. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lapel
noun
la·pel
lə-ˈpel 
: the fold of the front of a coat that is usually a part of the collar
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