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)
Examples of chaplain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This bill, when the chaplains come to campus, the parents have to consent for the student to receive services from there.
—
Ryan Dailey, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Counselors and campus chaplains were also made available to students, Bravman said in his letter.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
The media mogul was briefly engaged last year to former San Francisco police chaplain Ann Lesley Smith, though the pair called off the engagement weeks later.
—Reuters, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2024
Volunteer chaplains will also be allowed in schools at the district’s discretion.
—Rachel Fradette, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Jan. 2024
As if the First Amendment no longer existed, county school boards could put volunteer chaplains in schools.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2024
The two men befriended Yee, a Muslim convert who served as the Muslim chaplain on base.
—Tamara Audi, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Many chaplains have seminary or ministry training in and the endorsement of a particular faith.
—Hannah Fingerhut, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2024
Three citizens, including a pastor, spoke against school chaplains.
—Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
Ryan Dailey, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Counselors and campus chaplains were also made available to students, Bravman said in his letter.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
The media mogul was briefly engaged last year to former San Francisco police chaplain Ann Lesley Smith, though the pair called off the engagement weeks later.
—Reuters, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2024
Volunteer chaplains will also be allowed in schools at the district’s discretion.
—Rachel Fradette, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Jan. 2024
As if the First Amendment no longer existed, county school boards could put volunteer chaplains in schools.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2024
The two men befriended Yee, a Muslim convert who served as the Muslim chaplain on base.
—Tamara Audi, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Many chaplains have seminary or ministry training in and the endorsement of a particular faith.
—Hannah Fingerhut, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2024
Three citizens, including a pastor, spoke against school chaplains.
—Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chaplain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near chaplain
Cite this Entry
“Chaplain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaplain. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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)
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