chaplain

noun

chap·​lain ˈcha-plən 

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)

chaplaincy

ˈcha-plən-sē 

noun

Examples of chaplain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Until recently, only a Department of Corrections chaplain could join an execution team in the death chamber. —Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025

School chaplain bill fails in Senate A bill aimed at authorizing public schools to employ or accept as a volunteer a school chaplain fell short of clearing the Arkansas Senate on Tuesday. —Michael R. Wickline, arkansasonline.com, 5 Feb. 2025

The team chaplain, Father Nate Wills, helped prepare Freeman for his Catholic conversion. —Peter Burke, Fox News, 19 Jan. 2025

Fire department chaplain Lowell Black presided over the ceremony for the first time Monday. —Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 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

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)