chaplain

noun chap·lain \ ˈcha-plən \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Definition of chaplain

1 : a clergyman in charge of a chapel

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

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chaplaincy

play \-sē\ noun

See chaplain defined for English-language learners

See chaplain defined for kids

Recent Examples of chaplain from the Web

The American Jewish Committee had made the service possible, locating Sidney Lefkowitz, an Army corps chaplain, to preside.

— richard goldstein, New York Times, "Max Fuchs, G.I. Cantor in Historic Battlefield Service, Is Dead at 96," 4 July 2018
Since Joleen lives in Brookfield, the State Patrol contacted Brookfield police to make the notification after arranging for a chaplain.

— meg jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Nightmare #1: Husband's death by flying debris on I-94. Nightmare #2: The investigation," 29 June 2018
On death row at the state penitentiary in Baltimore, a Catholic chaplain helped Brady get a new lawyer, E. Clinton Bamberger.

— Longreads, "The Bungled Bank Robbery That Ended in a Landmark Legal Ruling," 26 June 2018
The Confederacy’s desire for divine approval shines clearest in the writings of R.L. Dabney, a Confederate chaplain and Presbyterian minister who committed himself to drafting Christian defenses of Southern slavery.

— sarah jones, The New Republic, "Who Would Jesus Lock Up?," 15 June 2018
At the same time, Baker’s distance from Trump increases his appeal with Democrats like Joan Ayers, a retired hospice chaplain from Fall River who participated in the survey.

— james pindell, BostonGlobe.com, "Transgender rights question could be closest vote in Mass. this fall, poll finds," 14 June 2018
As many college students continue to move away from organized religion, some universities have appointed secular chaplains like Epstein to help non-religious students lead ethical, meaningful lives.

— isabel fattal, The Atlantic, "MIT Now Has a Humanist Chaplain to Help Students With the Ethics of Tech," 16 May 2018
In his keynote address, Lee plans to tell a story from his career, of working as a chaplain at the Pentagon after 9/11, giving comfort to soldiers and praying over remains from the site.

— libby solomon, baltimoresun.com, "Towson pastor, National Guard chaplain to speak about sacrifice at Memorial Day ceremony," 21 May 2018
The IndyStar's Cliff Brown gets to know the new Colts chaplain Father Douglas Hunter, May 10, 2018.

— clifton brown, Indianapolis Star, "Colts newest chaplain is former IMPD officer who at first resisted calling to priesthood," 13 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chaplain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chaplain

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

CHAPLAIN Defined for English Language Learners

chaplain

noun

Definition of chaplain for English Language Learners

: a priest or other Christian religious leader who performs religious services for a military group (such as the army) or for a prison, hospital, etc.