chap

chap — noun

1. a man, especially one you know or like — used as a warm, familiar term when refe

1.nounB1
Definition

a man, especially one you know or like — used as a warm, familiar term when referring to or addressing another person, similar to saying 'guy' or 'fellow'.

Example

The old chap who lives next door always waves to us in the morning.

collocation: old chap as friendly reference

A young chap at the market showed Amara where to buy fresh bread.

Common collocations
  • old chap
  • young chap
  • poor chap
  • nice chap
  • dear chap
Synonyms
  • guy

    neutral informal term for a man, widely used in both American and British English

  • fellow

    similar to chap but slightly more formal; more common in older speech

  • bloke

    British informal equivalent; similar register to chap but more common in working-class speech

Usage Note

Primarily used in British English. In direct address ('old chap', 'my dear chap') it sounds old-fashioned or jocular. Avoid in formal writing.

Common Mistakes

I met a very professional chap at the business conference.
I met a very professional man at the business conference.
'Chap' is informal and can feel out of place in formal or professional settings.

2. a written abbreviation for 'chapter' — used mainly in book references, citations

2.nounB2
Definition

a written abbreviation for 'chapter' — used mainly in book references, citations, and academic writing when referring to a specific section of a text.

Example

The homework assignment is from chap. 5 of the textbook.

abbreviation: chap. = chapter in citation

Please read chap. 3 before Thursday's class discussion on economic theory.

Common collocations
  • chap. + number
  • see chap.
  • refer to chap.
  • chap. 1–5

Usage Note

Can also be abbreviated as 'ch.' In both cases, the period after the abbreviation is standard. Common in academic referencing systems.

Common Mistakes

The answer is in ch5 of the book.
The answer is in chap. 5 of the book.
Always write the period after the abbreviation 'chap.' or 'ch.'

chap — verb

Word family

  • chapped
    adjectiveB2
  • chapping
    nounC1
  • chapman
    noun

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer informally to a man, but they differ in region and tone. 'Guy' is the most widespread and neutral — used comfortably in both American and British English for any male person ('a nice guy'). 'Fellow' is more old-fashioned and slightly formal; it appears in polite speech ('a fine fellow') but sounds dated to younger speakers. 'Bloke' is distinctly British and casual, common in everyday UK conversation ('a bloke from work') but rare in American English. 'Dude' is the American counterpart to 'bloke' — very informal and sometimes used for younger men ('a chill dude'). 'Chap' sits between 'fellow' (old-fashioned) and 'bloke' (everyday British) — it carries a friendly, slightly upper-middle-class or jocular tone, especially in phrases like 'old chap'. In writing, choose 'guy' for broad readability; use 'chap' or 'bloke' for British character flavour.

guyfellowblokedude

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The noun 'chap' (meaning 'man') is a shortening of 'chapman', an Old English word for a merchant or trader. By the 16th century, 'chap' came to mean 'customer' or 'fellow', and later settled into a friendly term for any man. The verb 'chap' (skin cracking) has a different origin — it comes from Middle English 'chappen', meaning to split or crack, probably of imitative origin.