What does chiseled mean?
'Chiseled' is an adjective used to describe physical features — most often a jawline, cheekbones, or an entire physique — that appear sharply and cleanly defined, as though they had been carved by a sculptor's chisel rather than merely grown. It is overwhelmingly a complimentary term, common in fashion writing, film reviews, fitness culture, and everyday praise for someone's striking looks: a chiseled face suggests strength, discipline, and classical beauty, echoing the idealized figures of Greek and Roman statuary. The word also functions as the past tense of the verb 'chisel,' which literally means to cut or shape material such as stone or wood with a beveled edge tool, and, more colloquially, means to cheat or swindle someone. The adjective's power lies in this concrete image: it transfers the precision and permanence of stone carving onto living flesh. American spelling uses a single 'l' ('chiseled'), while British English doubles it ('chiselled').
Having sharply and cleanly defined contours, especially of facial features or musculature, as if shaped by a sculptor's chisel.
"The marathon runner had lean, chiseled legs that testified to years of training."
Almost always used approvingly, particularly of jaws, cheekbones, and abdominal muscles.
Past tense and past participle of 'chisel': shaped or cut hard material with a chisel, or (informally) cheated someone out of something.
"He chiseled the date into the cornerstone before the mortar set."
The swindling sense is informal and somewhat dated, as in 'he chiseled me out of fifty dollars.'
Your jawline can be 'carved' without ever touching stone — English borrowed the sculptor's tool to describe faces so sharp they look hand-cut.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chiseled
'Chiseled' derives from the verb 'chisel,' which entered English in the Middle English period from the Old French 'cisel' (modern French 'ciseau'), meaning a cutting tool. The Old French noun traces back to Late Latin 'caesellum,' a diminutive formed on the Latin verb 'caedere,' meaning 'to cut.' This same Latin root gave English several other words, including 'incise,' 'concise,' 'decide,' and 'caesura.' The figurative adjective use — describing sharply defined features — developed naturally from the literal act of carving.
Related word forms
How chiseled is actually used
The adjective sense is most common today, especially in descriptions of attractive faces and athletic physiques, and carries a strongly positive connotation. The figurative leap from carving stone to describing bone structure gives the word its vividness. Note the regional spelling difference: American English writes 'chiseled' with one 'l'; British English writes 'chiselled' with two.
Easily confused with chiseled
'Chiselled' is simply the British English spelling of the same word, not a different term — US English uses one 'l' while British English uses two.