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 47-year-old has been in prison for 18 years, 17 of which have been spent as a chaplain. —Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025

Rogers passed away from pneumonia complications in 2015, exactly one year before fellow cast member William Christopher. 08 of 08 William Christopher In 1972, William Christopher joined the cast of M*A*S*H as Father Mulcahy, the Catholic priest that serves as the Army chaplain. —Rachel Flynn, People.com, 10 May 2025

The cemetery also contains the graves of 45 pairs of brothers (30 of which are buried side by side), a father and his son, an uncle and his nephew, 2 pairs of cousins, 3 generals, 4 chaplains, 4 civilians, 4 women, 147 African Americans and 20 Native Americans. —Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025

As a chaplain, Chong worries that someone turning to ChatGPT for answers about faith and religion cuts them off from the earthly parts of spiritual practice. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 25 May 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)