chapter

American  

[chap-ter] / ˈtʃæp tər /

noun

1. a main division of a book, treatise, or the like, usually bearing a number or title.

2. a branch, usually restricted to a given locality, of a society, organization, fraternity, etc..

   the Connecticut chapter of the American Red Cross.

3. an important portion or division of anything.

   The atomic bomb opened a new chapter in history.

   Synonyms:

   phase, period, episode, era

4. Ecclesiastical.

   1. an assembly of the monks in a monastery, of those in a province, or of the entire order.

   2. a general assembly of the canons of a church.

   3. a meeting of the elected representatives of the provinces or houses of a religious community.

   4. the body of such canons or representatives collectively.

5. any general assembly.

6. Liturgy. a short scriptural quotation read at various parts of the office, as after the last psalm in the service of lauds, prime, tierce, etc.

7. Horology. any of the marks or numerals designating the hours on a dial.

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verb (used with object)

1. to divide into or arrange in chapters.

chapter British  

/ ˈtʃæptə /

noun

1. a division of a written work, esp a narrative, usually titled or numbered

2. a sequence of events having a common attribute

   a chapter of disasters

3. 1. a series of misfortunes

   2. the unforeseeable course of events

4. an episode or period in a life, history, etc

5. a numbered reference to that part of a Parliamentary session which relates to a specified Act of Parliament

6. a branch of some societies, clubs, etc, esp of a secret society

7. the collective body or a meeting of the canons of a cathedral or collegiate church or of the members of a monastic or knightly order

8. a general assembly of some organization

9. exact authority for an action or statement

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verb

1. (tr) to divide into chapters

Other Word Forms

• chapteral adjective
• unchapter verb (used with object)
• unchaptered adjective

Etymology

Origin of chapter

1175–1225; Middle English chapiter, variant of chapitre < Old French < Latin capitulum little head ( capit-, stem of caput head + -ulum -ule ); in Late Latin: section of a book; in Medieval Latin: section read at a meeting, hence, the meeting, especially one of canons, hence, a body of canons

Explanation

A chapter is a section of a book. Some long novels might be divided into twenty or thirty chapters. The noun chapter is good for talking about a subset or small section of some larger thing. Book chapters are one example, and so is a chapter in a person's life or a chapter of an organization or club. When you mention the "mopey teenage chapter" of your life, you mean one small portion of the years you've lived. And the Montana chapter of a national fan club is made up of only members who live in one state.

Example Sentences

The local union chapter representing 3,800 workers at the Greeley, Colo., beef plant went on strike March 16, seeking higher wages and other workplace changes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

But in March, Labrinth distanced himself from the forthcoming chapter in a strongly worded Instagram post which criticised network HBO, which broadcasts Euphoria, and record label Columbia, which releases the soundtrack.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

The Artemis II mission opened a new chapter in space exploration.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

“As I move on to my next chapter I believe my best work is yet to come,” he wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

That house belonged to a chapter in his life that was no more, the chapter his mother had lived in.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

• affiliate
• branch
• division
• episode
• member
• phase
• stage
• unit