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 longtime Loyola chaplain died in Illinois, the school shared while announcing her death earlier this month. —Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025

Her parents waited outside, praying with the hospital’s chaplain. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025

Brooke devised the novel during her tenure as the expatriate wife of a chaplain stationed at a British garrison in Quebec. —JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025

According to Sports Spectrum, the Chiefs' team chaplain, Marcellus Casey, baptized Brown, and Casey's wife baptized Brown's fiancée. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 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)