Cheirodendron fauriei is a tree or occasionally a shrub, growing between 2–10(–12) meters tall, with secretory canals present in most parts. The leaves are palmately compound and arranged oppositely. Each leaf consists of three orbicular to broadly ovate or occasionally depressed-ovate leaflets, measuring 3–8 cm long and about as wide. The apex is rounded to nearly truncate, with an apiculate to short-acuminate tip. The base is obtuse to nearly truncate. The blades are thin and coriaceous, becoming chartaceous when dry. The midvein, margins, petiolule, and petiole are often tinged purple, and the petiolule is frequently laterally compressed. The margins are caudate-dentate, with 3–10 outward-pointing teeth per side, each having an upcurved tip more than 1 mm long, though rarely as short as 0.8 mm. The veins are not raised on the upper surface. Petioles are 4–9 cm long, while petiolules are 2–4 cm long and laterally compressed. The petiole base is often broad and sheaths the stem. Stipules are absent. The flowers are arranged in terminal, erect, oppositely branched panicles of umbellules, with inflorescences reaching up to 12 cm long. The bracts are minute, subconnate, persistent, forming an involucel below the umbellules and a pseudocalyx below each flower. The pedicels are jointed below the ovary and range from 3–6 mm long. The flowers are bisexual (perfect) and functionally staminate, as the plants are andromonoecious. The calyx consists of five short, basally connate teeth. The corolla has 5(6) petals, with buds dark purple and mature petals purple externally and greenish internally. The petals are valvate, caducous, triangular to ovate, or oblong, with an inflexed apex. Stamens are typically as many as and alternate with the petals, though sometimes they are numerous. They are distinct, inserted at the edge of the epigynous nectary disk, pale yellow, and spreading. The ovary is inferior, 2(3)-carpellate, with connate carpels (rarely pseudomonomerous), each containing two pendulous ovules, one abortive. The styles are 2(3), 1–2 mm long, distinct, or connate up to ¼ of their length, forming a conical stylopodium 1–1.5 mm long. The fruit is strongly compressed laterally, occasionally 3-sided, circular or oblate, and sometimes ovate or obovate, measuring 4–76(–7.5) mm long, including the styles. Each pyrene contains a single seed, and the embryo is small. It is found in diverse mesic and wet forests between 650-1,250 meters.