chaplain

play

noun chap·lain \ ˈcha-plən \

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

The Army is providing the trainees with counseling and access to Army chaplains and medical care.

— leada gore, AL.com, "Fort Benning drill sergeants suspended after sexual assault allegations," 23 Aug. 2017
Most of hospice care is covered by Medicare, which pays for hospices to send nurses, aides, social workers and chaplains, as well as hospital beds, oxygen machines and medications to the home.

— melissa bailey, Kaiser Health News, "Dying At Home In An Opioid Crisis: Hospices Grapple With Stolen Meds," 22 Aug. 2017
The packages include traditional kosher meals, wine, a large-print prayer book and a DVD of services conducted by Rabbi Alan Sherman, chaplain at MorseLife.

— randall p. lieberman, Jewish Journal, "Palm Beach County senior agency to deliver High Holiday packages," 9 Aug. 2017
In 1817, in what have come down to us as his Detached Memoranda, James Madison discussed the appointments of congressional chaplains.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Sam Brownback Is Your New Ambassador At Large For Religious Freedom," 27 July 2017
Neither one of them puts much faith in Humanism, though Zoltan tried working as a chaplain at the lively, cutting-edge secularism center at Harvard called the Humanist Hub, where there is a Sunday school for kids based on ethics.

— julie zauzmer, Washington Post, "‘Harry Potter and the Sacred Text’ podcast draws non-believers who find meaning in magical fiction," 19 July 2017
Included are a restaurant, dental service, medical care, chaplain, a recreation center and organized outings.

— diane bell, sandiegouniontribune.com, "On and off the track: horses and hidden attractions at Del Mar," 19 July 2017
The last anyone saw of the chaplains was the four men, locked arm in arm, praying together as the ship went down, taking them and 672 other men to their graves in the icy water of the Atlantic.

— elliot kaufman, National Review, "Grace on the Fourth of July," 4 July 2017
Also: The Crimson also reports that Harvard has appointed its first Muslim chaplain.

— susannah hutcheson, USA TODAY College, "Campus news of the week: Missing student, mumps, Gloria Steinem and more," 1 July 2017

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

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Other Christian Religious Terms

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

CHAPLAIN Defined for English Language Learners

chaplain

play

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

play

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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chaplain

Definition of chaplain for English Language Learners

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chaplain

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