: 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
Peak lapels and shirt collar tips were slightly reshaped through pattern engineering and ironwork, while oxford shirts were cut on the bias to create natural drape.
—
Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Traditionally, brooches are worn on the lapel of jackets or pinned on shirts.
—Frances Solá-Santiago, InStyle, 16 Jan. 2026
Opt for a slimmer silhouette with a stylish lapel collar like this version from Cicy Bell at Amazon.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026
Ostapchuk wore a cowl halter-neck gown with an open back, while Kraus wore a dark green tuxedo jacket with black lapels, a black bow tie and black pants.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lapel
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Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Traditionally, brooches are worn on the lapel of jackets or pinned on shirts.
—Frances Solá-Santiago, InStyle, 16 Jan. 2026
Opt for a slimmer silhouette with a stylish lapel collar like this version from Cicy Bell at Amazon.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026
Ostapchuk wore a cowl halter-neck gown with an open back, while Kraus wore a dark green tuxedo jacket with black lapels, a black bow tie and black pants.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
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 Jan. 2026.
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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