We report a magnetic and neutron diffraction study on the ground state magnetism and field evolution of single-crystal van der Waals multiferroic ${\mathrm{CuCrP}}_2{\mathrm{S}}_6$. The ordered moments align along the $b$ axis in the “$A$-type” antiferromagnetic configuration with a spin-flop transition along the same direction. Field application along $a$ introduces a smooth transition to a fully polarized ferromagnetic state via in-plane spin rotation. These findings resolve the ambiguity of the ground state magnetization direction in ${\mathrm{CuCrP}}_2{\mathrm{S}}_6$ and uncover its field responses, providing a firm basis for future magnetoelectric study. A magnetoelastic coupling effect connecting the interlayer spacing and the magnetic order was further revealed, highlighting the out-of-plane strain as an effective control knob for tuning magnetism both in this system and in related van der Waals magnets.

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• Magnetism
• van der Waals systems
• Neutron scattering