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

The Chaplain will follow airport chaplain Tobias Wallace, who uses decidedly unorthodox methods to solve daily crises. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025

Rich Miserendino, who serves as chaplain at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. —Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025

Among those who escorted them to their kids was Howard Dotson, an interfaith chaplain who had come to comfort families. —Nbc News, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2025

At the center of the case is Ayman Soliman, a former Cincinnati Children's hospital chaplain now in the Butler County Jail near Cincinnati, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement has held him since July 9. —Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 26 Aug. 2025

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)