chandelier

noun

chan·​de·​lier ˌshan-də-ˈlir How to pronounce chandelier (audio)
Synonyms of chandeliernext
: a branched often ornate lighting fixture suspended from a ceiling
chandeliered adjective

Illustration of chandelier

Illustration of chandelier

Examples of chandelier in a Sentence

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.
The restaurant is lit naturally by skylights during the day and by chandeliers in the evening, which was made from old pipes. Adam Williams april 24, New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2026 Paths cross at Birdsong lobby lounge and bar, an airy double-height space where mid-century-style terrazzo floors and starburst chandeliers blend with curvaceous pink velvet chairs and dusky blue drapes, with the city shimmering in the background. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 In the recently redone kitchen, Lawson added a bright yellow ceiling in Neggin Saffron from his collection of paint colors for Ressource and an antique Dutch chandelier from a favorite dealer in the Netherlands. Anne Hardy, Architectural Digest, 23 Apr. 2026 The family room offers three walls of windows, a fireplace with an authentic late-1800s cast-iron facade, granite mantel and a polished nickel and crystal drum chandelier. Saleema Syed, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chandelier

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Old French, going back to Vulgar Latin *candēlārium, formed by substitution of the suffix -ārium -ary entry 1 from Latin candēlābrum candelabrum

First Known Use

1736, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chandelier was in 1736

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chandelier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chandelier. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

chandelier

noun
chan·​de·​lier ˌshan-də-ˈli(ə)r How to pronounce chandelier (audio)
: a branched lighting fixture usually hanging from a ceiling
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