What does chalice mean?
A chalice is a large, typically ornate drinking vessel, most familiar as the ceremonial cup used to hold the wine during the Christian Eucharist. Traditionally crafted from gold, silver, or other precious materials and often richly decorated, chalices have long been among the most treasured objects of church ritual, and surviving examples from the medieval period are prized artifacts of religious art. Beyond this sacred setting, the word can refer to any elaborate goblet, though such use tends to sound literary or formal. In modern usage, 'chalice' also appears figuratively, most famously in the expression 'a poisoned chalice', which describes an apparent prize that proves damaging or burdensome to whoever receives it — a phrase coined by Shakespeare in Macbeth and still common in political commentary. With its associations of ceremony, sanctity, and hidden danger, 'chalice' lends writing a note of gravity and elegance.
A large ornate drinking cup, especially one made of precious metal used for the Eucharistic wine in Christian worship.
"The priest raised the silver chalice above the altar."
Most commonly encountered in religious contexts; figurative uses are usually tied to the idiom 'a poisoned chalice'.
Any large decorative goblet used for drinking.
"The king's feast included goblets and chalices set with gemstones."
Literary or archaic in tone when not referring to liturgical vessels.
Standard regular plural; used both for multiple ceremonial cups and in general literary contexts.
"The museum's collection includes several gilded chalices from the fifteenth century."
In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the phrase 'poisoned chalice' was born — and centuries later it's still how we describe a promotion or prize that turns out to be a curse in disguise.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chalice
The word 'chalice' entered Middle English through Old French 'chalice' (modern French 'calice'), which derived from Latin 'calix', meaning a cup or goblet. Latin 'calix' itself was borrowed from Greek 'kylix', a shallow drinking cup, so the word ultimately traces back to ancient Greek tableware vocabulary. It has been part of English since the medieval period and remains closely tied to ecclesiastical language.
How chalice is actually used
The word carries strong religious and ceremonial connotations; outside liturgical contexts it often sounds elevated or literary. The figurative use in 'a poisoned chalice' — something that seems a blessing but brings misfortune — is common in political and business journalism, particularly in British English.
Easily confused with chalice
'Chaliced' is a rare adjective meaning shaped like a cup or having a calyx, whereas 'chalice' itself is the noun for the ornate cup.