chapter

noun

chap·​ter ˈchap-tər 

1

a

: a main division of a book

b

: something resembling a chapter in being a significant specified unit

a new chapter in my life

2

a

: a regular meeting of the canons of a cathedral or collegiate church or of the members of a religious house

b

: the body of canons of a cathedral or collegiate church

3

: a local branch of an organization

Synonyms

• affiliate
• cell

Examples of chapter in a Sentence

Chapter three deals with the country's economy.

Please read the first two chapters of your textbook for our next class.

Becoming a parent opened up a whole new chapter in my life.

a difficult chapter in European history

Recent Examples on the Web

Al-Gameya Al-Shareya was among more than 1,000 civil society groups blacklisted in the crackdown, court filings say, and chapters suspected of helping the Brotherhood during elections were dissolved. —Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025

Some chapters sold boxes for $7 last year. —Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025

The Pagan’s is a national organization with multiple active chapters in Missouri. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025

Bridge management works to preserve financial value, tenant trust, and community goodwill as the property prepares for its next chapter. —Kristin Mueller, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chapitre, from Anglo-French chapitre, chapitle, from Late Latin capitulum division of a book & Medieval Latin, meeting place of canons, from Latin, diminutive of capit-, caput head — more at head

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing chapter

• a chapter of accidents
• chapter and verse
• sub-chapter

Rhymes for chapter

• apter
• captor
• raptor
• adapter
• adaptor
• subchapter

Kids Definition

chapter

noun

chap·​ter ˈchap-tər 

1

a

: a main division of a book or of a law code

b

: something like a chapter in being a significant unit

a chapter in my life

2

: a local branch of an organization