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)
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Recent Examples of chaplain from the Web
-
As founder and chief executive officer of the Peace Institute, Ms. Chéry – a chaplain who goes by Tina – has received widespread recognition for her work.
-
The Sheriff's Office chaplain was on scene speaking to another woman, possibly the dead man's mother, who at one point had to be restrained from running to the body.
-
Hilton, whose sister is a Cincinnati police officer, has volunteered as a chaplain for the department.
-
A volunteer chaplain such as Bruce Feltmann, 74, ex-Navy, ex-Army, who then worked at the Kenworth Trucks assembly line here, helps guide the ceremonies.
-
Marlin Gray sang the national anthem and chaplain Sgt.
-
Then I was hired by the HealthCare Chaplaincy Network, a nonprofit organization that provides interfaith chaplains to help people faced with illness, and operates at major New York hospitals like Winthrop and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
-
Maskell, a chaplain and counselor at the school, denied any wrongdoing and was never charged.
-
All three were pulled to safety and taken to a hospital in Tacoma, where the hospital chaplain performed the ceremony.
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
First Known Use: 14th century
Other Christian Religious Terms
CHAPLAIN Defined for English Language Learners
chaplain
playDefinition 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.
CHAPLAIN Defined for Kids
chaplain
playDefinition of chaplain for Students
: a member of the clergy who performs religious services for a special group (as the army)
Learn More about chaplain
-
See words that rhyme with chaplain Spanish Central: Translation of chaplain Nglish: Translation of chaplain for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of chaplain for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chaplain
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up chaplain? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!