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

Colleagues described a popular chaplain with nicknames for the tiny patients and soothing words for their bleary-eyed parents. —Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025

He was later engaged to former police chaplain Ann Lesley Smith. —Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025

Ayman Soliman, a former hospital chaplain, has been detained by immigration authorities since July after losing his asylum status. —Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2025

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