# chancel

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtʃɑːnsəl/ · frequency rank #40,170

## Definitions
1. The space around the altar in a church or cathedral, often enclosed, for use by the clergy and the choir. In medieval cathedrals the chancel was usually enclosed or blocked off from the nave by an altar screen.
2. The space around the altar in a church or cathedral, often enclosed, for use by the clergy and the choir. In medieval cathedrals the chancel was usually enclosed or blocked off from the nave by an altar screen.
3. The space around the altar in a church or cathedral, often enclosed, for use by the clergy and the choir. In medieval cathedrals the chancel was usually enclosed or blocked off from the nave by an altar screen.

## Etymology
From Old French chancel. Doublet of cancellus.

## Easily confused with
- **change** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chancel-vs-change)
- **chapel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chancel-vs-chapel)
- **Chanel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chancel-vs-chanel)
- **Chaney** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chancel-vs-chaney)
- **changes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chancel-vs-changes)
- **changed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chancel-vs-changed)
- **channel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chancel-vs-channel)
- **chances** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chancel-vs-chances)
- **changer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chancel-vs-changer)
- **Chaucer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chancel-vs-chaucer)
- **Chantal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chancel-vs-chantal)
- **channels** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chancel-vs-channels)
- **chancery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chancel-vs-chancery)
- **Chauncey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chancel-vs-chauncey)
- **chance** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chance-vs-chancel)
- **cancer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cancer-vs-chancel)
- **cancel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cancel-vs-chancel)

## Common misspellings (11)
`cahncel`, `cchancel`, `chacnel`, `chanccel`, `chancell`, `chancle`, `chanecl`, `channcel`, `chhancel`, `chnacel`, `hcancel`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/chancel