In the title ylide, C(31)H(28)ClO(2)P [common name α-acetyl-α-p-chloro-benzoyl-methyl-enetri(p-tol-yl)phospho-rane], the dihedral angle between the 4-chloro-phenyl ring and that of the ylide moiety is 66.15 (10)°. The geometry around the P atom is slightly distorted tetra-hedral [angle range = 105.22 (8)-115.52 (9)°] and the carbonyl O atoms are syn-oriented with respect to the P atom. The ylide group is close to planar [maximum deviation from the least-squares plane = 0.006 (2) Å] and the P-C, C-C and C=O bond lengths are consistent with electron delocalization involving the O atoms.