chrysalis

noun

chrys·​a·​lis ˈkri-sə-ləs How to pronounce chrysalis (audio)
plural chrysalides kri-ˈsa-lə-ˌdēz How to pronounce chrysalis (audio) or chrysalises
1
a
: a pupa of a butterfly
broadly : an insect pupa
b
: the hardened outer protective layer of a pupa
2
: a protecting covering
also : a sheltered state or stage of being or growth
… a budding writer could not emerge from his chrysalis too soon. —William Du Bois

Illustration of chrysalis

Illustration of chrysalis
  • chrysalis 1

Examples of chrysalis 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 boy debates the merit of each name: on the one hand, chrysalides are green and hard and prone to explode in riots of incandescence; on the other, parrots are green, loud, and obnoxious. —Beth Bachmann, The New Yorker, 25 July 2024 After the larval stage, the caterpillar forms a chrysalis in a sheltered location. —Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 12 July 2024 Feeling like a butterfly morphing in its chrysalis? —USA TODAY, 27 May 2024 In longevity, there is not going to be a moment when a chrysalis bursts and a butterfly flies out, Miller said, a sudden leap forward in people’s life expectancy. —Jacob Sweet, Vox, 8 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for chrysalis 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin chrȳsallid-, chrȳsallis, borrowed from Greek chrȳsallid-, chrȳsallís, from chrȳsós "gold" (referring to the metallic gold-like sheen of some butterfly pupae) + -allid-, -allis, noun suffix of some plant and animal names — more at chryso-

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of chrysalis was in 1601

Dictionary Entries Near chrysalis

chrysalid

chrysalis

chrysaloid

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Chrysalis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chrysalis. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

chrysalis

noun
chrys·​a·​lis ˈkris-ə-ləs How to pronounce chrysalis (audio)
plural chrysalides kris-ˈal-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce chrysalis (audio) or chrysalises
ˈkris-ə-lə-səz
: the pupa of a butterfly or moth
also : the hardened outer layer of such a pupa compare cocoon sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on chrysalis

Nglish: Translation of chrysalis for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chrysalis

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
sweet smart pug puppy dog sitting in front of blackboard with chalk question marks
Commonly Confused Words Quiz Vol. 3 Do you have a (flare/flair) for choosing the righ...