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 criminal complaint says the day after the incident, the suspect, a 64-year-old man who served as a volunteer chaplain at the Eden Prairie Police Department at the time, called an officer to ask about the crash. —Riley Moser, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2025

Joy used the opportunity to pray that House Bill 240 ‒ which would allow public schools to hire chaplains ‒ would pass. —Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Dec. 2025

Having discovered the power of prayer, the prisoner strikes up a relationship with a young chaplain and takes communion for the first time in years. —Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025

Chips and Salsa For Thomas Settles, chaplain for the University of Georgia football team, chips and salsa are a must any time of day or year. —Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 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)