lapel

noun

la·​pel lə-ˈpel 

: 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

lapelled adjective

or lapeled

lə-ˈpeld 

Examples of lapel in a Sentence

He wore a carnation in his lapel.

Recent Examples on the Web

The rundown by Coveteur of fall 2026 outerwear trends also flags military jackets, shrunken lapels, capes and silk jackets as looks worth watching. — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026

Coveteur reports other emerging outerwear looks this season include military jackets and shrunken lapels, along with capes and silk jackets. — Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026

Munn wore a sleek velvety black strapless gown courtesy of Fforme with Boucheron jewelry, while Mulaney chose a Brunello Cucinelli navy suit with a double-breasted jacket and black accents throughout, including his bowtie and silky satin lapels. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026

Calvin Klein sent a gorgeous plaid trench coat with leather lapels down its fall 2026 runway. — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

diminutive of lap entry 1

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lapel

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel

Kids Definition

lapel

noun

la·​pel lə-ˈpel 

: the fold of the front of a coat that is usually a part of the collar