chrysalis

noun

chrys·a·lis ˈkri-sə-ləs

plural chrysalides kri-ˈsa-lə-ˌdēz

or chrysalises

: a pupa of a butterfly

broadly : an insect pupa

: the hardened outer protective layer of a pupa

: 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

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

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Chrysalis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chrysalis. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.

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Kids Definition

chrysalis

noun

chrys·a·lis ˈkris-ə-ləs

plural chrysalides kris-ˈal-ə-ˌdēz

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

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chrysalis

noun

Illustration of chrysalis

Examples of chrysalis in a Sentence

Word History

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Kids Definition