lapel

1 of 2

noun

la·​pel lə-ˈpel How to pronounce lapel (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce lapel (audio)

lapelled

2 of 2

adjective

la·​pelled lə-ˈpeld How to pronounce lapelled (audio)
variants or lapeled
1
: having lapels
2
: turned back as lapels

Examples of lapel in a Sentence

Noun He wore a carnation in his lapel.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In a rejection of the voluminous tailoring that came before it, Slimane’s knife-slim suits, narrow lapels, and razor-thin ties revived 1960s cool and began streamlining virtually everything else in the menswear wardrobe. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026 George, meanwhile, suited up in a black tux, pairing his peak-lapel jacket and pleated trousers with patent leather shoes. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 9 Oct. 2026 The blazer was the hero piece of her ensemble, featuring sharp shoulders and angular lapels. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026 The high-collar silhouette, a stand-up neckline that extends several inches above the shoulders with no lapel break, is showing up on runways, in mass-market store windows and across editorial coverage heading into the colder months. — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lapel

Word History

Etymology

Noun

diminutive of lap entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1789, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lapel was in 1789

Rhymes for lapel

See All Rhymes for lapel

Browse Nearby Words

lap dulcimer
lapel
lapeler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lapel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lapel. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lapel

noun
la·​pel lə-ˈpel How to pronounce lapel (audio)
: the fold of the front of a coat that is usually a part of the collar
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