# lapel

/ɫəˈpɛɫ/ (US) · /lɐpˈɛl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lapel
Updated: 2026-05-27

## Definition

the part of a jacket or coat that covers the front of the neck and collar. It is the area you see when you look at the front of a suit.

For teachers: the part of a coat or jacket that covers the front of the neck and collar. Often used in the context of formal wear or specific styles like the peak or notch lapel.

## Examples

- He wore a suit with a wide lapel.
- The tailor adjusted the lapel of the jacket to ensure it sat perfectly against the client's collar.
- In traditional tailoring, the width of the lapel is a significant indicator of the era in which a suit was designed, with wider styles becoming increasingly popular in the late twentieth century.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.