chaplain

noun chap·lain \ ˈcha-plən \

Updated on: 18 May 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)

—

chaplaincy

play \-sē\ noun

See chaplain defined for English-language learners

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Recent Examples of chaplain from the Web

So, while the book portrays Mr. March as a Union Army chaplain in the Civil War who falls ill, requiring Marmee to rush to a hospital in Washington, D.C. to see him, in real life that all happened to Alcott herself.

— olivia b. waxman, Time, "The Real Family That Inspired Little Women," 11 May 2018
For those a little rusty on the book or who snoozed through English lit, the story begins during the Civil War, with the March girls trying to get by while their father (Baker) is off serving as a chaplain in the Union army.

— brian lowry, CNN, "'Little Women' gets 21st-century makeover on 'Masterpiece'," 11 May 2018
There's Marmee, who for much of the story is essentially a single mother, left to raise four daughters in genteel poverty while her husband is serving as a chaplain in the Union Army.

— meredith blake, latimes.com, "PBS brings 'Little Women' to a new generation," 10 May 2018
Lawmakers, including some Republicans, had urged Ryan to keep Conroy on as the House chaplain.

— CBS News, "Ousted House chaplain rescinds his resignation," 3 May 2018
Money for chaplains and librarians will be cut $500,000.

— brendan farrington, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Florida prisons cutting programs to offset $50M shortfall," 2 May 2018
By Michelle Williams founder, 37, and pro sports chaplain Johnson, 40, met in March 2017 at a spiritual retreat then quietly got to know each other for months before taking their relationship public last July.

— jeff nelson, PEOPLE.com, "Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland Approve of Michelle Williams' Fiancé: 'They Love Him!'," 27 Apr. 2018
Former Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, nominated Conroy as the chaplain in May 2011, in consultation with Pelosi, and he was sworn in that month.

— NBC News, "Speaker Paul Ryan forces out the House chaplain," 26 Apr. 2018
The sports media were now fixed on Loyola — including the team’s celebrity, team chaplain Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt.

— rafael guerrero, Elgin Courier-News, "Larkin grad on Final Four run with Loyola: 'I almost feel spoiled getting to experience it'," 6 Apr. 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.

CHAPLAIN Defined for Kids

chaplain

noun chap·lain \ ˈcha-plən \

Definition 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

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chaplain

Definition of chaplain

chaplaincy

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Definition of chaplain for English Language Learners

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chaplain

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