chaplain

noun

chap·​lain ˈcha-plən 

1

: a clergyperson in charge of a chapel

2

: a clergyperson officially attached to a branch of the military, to an institution, or to a family or court

3

: a person chosen to conduct religious exercises (as at a meeting of a club or society)

4

: a clergyperson appointed to assist a bishop (as at a liturgical function)

chaplaincy

ˈcha-plən-sē 

noun

Examples of chaplain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

People still talked about the time three years earlier when Darlene was shipped to a different facility after reporting the chaplain. —Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026

The first Muslim chaplain was picked in 1994, and the first Buddhist chaplain followed in 2008. —Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026

Hegseth regularly cites George Washington, who pushed to establish the military chaplain corps. —Tiffany Stanley, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026

Both Twedt-Ball, a third-generation United Methodist pastor and founder of the nonprofit Matthew 25, and Lindsay James, a PCUSA chaplain who is also running in Iowa's 2nd district, said the 2016 election was a catalyst for their political involvement. —CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chapelein, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin cappellanus, from cappella

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for chaplain

• caplin

Kids Definition

chaplain

noun

chap·​lain ˈchap-lən 

1

: a member of the clergy officially attached to a special group (as the army)

2

: a person chosen to conduct religious exercises (as for a club)