What does candelabra mean?
A candelabra is an ornamental, often branched stand designed to hold several candles — and sometimes electric bulbs styled to imitate them. Strictly speaking, it is the plural of 'candelabrum', the name for a single such holder, but in modern English 'candelabra' is very frequently treated as a singular noun in its own right. The word evokes elegance and ceremony: candelabra appear on formal dining tables, in churches and synagogues, on theatre stages, and in period dramas, where their flickering light suggests luxury and tradition. They are typically made of silver, brass, bronze, or crystal, and range from simple three-arm designs to elaborate multi-tiered pieces. The word derives from the Latin 'candelabrum', rooted in 'candela', meaning candle — the same root that gives us 'candle', 'incandescent', and 'candidate'. Whether you treat it as singular or plural, 'candelabra' remains the standard term for these decorative branched candle holders, lending any description a touch of grandeur.
nounAn ornamental branched holder or stand for candles or lamps. In careful usage it is the plural of 'candelabrum', but it is very commonly treated as a singular mass noun.
- An ornamental branched stand holding several candles or lights (most commonly used today, often as a singular noun).
- Strictly, the plural of 'candelabrum': more than one such branched candle holder.
"The dining room glowed under a pair of silver candelabra set at either end of the table."
"Tall candelabra flanked the fireplace, their flames flickering against the gilded mirrors."
"The museum's collection included a Roman candelabrum and two eighteenth-century silver candelabra."
In classical usage, the plural of 'candelabrum' is 'candelabra'. When 'candelabra' is used as a singular noun, regular English plurals such as 'candelabras' are acceptable.
"The antique shop displayed several ornate candelabras in its window."
Strictly speaking, one fancy candlestick on your table isn't a candelabra — it's a candelabrum. But English speakers have been quietly ignoring that rule for centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of candelabra
Candelabra comes from the Latin 'candelabrum', meaning a candle-holder or lamp-stand, which itself derives from 'candela' (candle), from the verb 'candere', meaning to shine or glow white. The same Latin root produced 'candle' via Old English 'candel', and gives us related words such as 'chandler', 'incandescent', and 'candidate'. The word entered English in the seventeenth century, borrowed directly from Latin, and its plural 'candelabra' gradually came to be used as a singular noun by analogy with words like 'data' shifting toward mass-noun treatment.
Related word forms
How candelabra is actually used
Prescriptivists maintain that 'candelabrum' is singular and 'candelabra' plural, following the Latin forms. In everyday use, however, 'candelabra' is widely treated as a singular noun ('a candelabra stood on the mantel'), and this usage is well established. The word carries connotations of elegance, formality, and old-world grandeur, appearing most often in descriptions of formal dinners, religious settings, and period décor.
Easily confused with candelabra
'Candelabrum' is strictly the singular form for one branched candle holder, while 'candelabra' is its plural — though modern English frequently treats 'candelabra' as a singular word.
A chandelier is a light fixture that hangs from the ceiling, whereas a candelabra sits on a table or floor.