chaperone

American  

[shap-uh-rohn] / ˈʃæp əˌroʊn /

Or chaperon

noun

chaperones plural

1. a person, usually a married or older woman, who, for propriety, accompanies a young unmarried woman in public or who attends a party of young unmarried men and women.

   Synonyms:

   escort

2. any adult present in order to maintain order or propriety at an activity of young people, as at a school dance.

3. a round headdress of stuffed cloth with wide cloth streamers that fall from the crown or are draped around it, worn in the 15th century.

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verb (used with object)

1. to attend or accompany as chaperone.

   Synonyms:

   escort

verb (used without object)

1. to act as chaperone.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• chaperonage
  noun
• chaperonless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• chaperones
  plural

Etymology

Origin of chaperone

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Middle French: “hood, cowl,” equivalent to chape cape ¹ + -eron noun suffix; figurative sense from French (18th century)

Explanation

High school dances always have at least one chaperone to keep an eye on things. A chaperone is someone who looks after and supervises another person or a group of people. Chaperone can also be spelled chaperon, without the e. It originally meant a woman whose duty was to accompany a younger woman and make sure she wasn't harmed and didn't get into trouble, especially when she was with a man. These days, chaperone is most often used to describe an adult who supervises a group of kids or teenagers. The Old English meaning was "protective hood or head covering," and today the word chaperone retains that "protective" quality.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chaperone chaperones

As the company spread across the U.S., it maintained rules for decades: Kids were allowed only with a chaperone age 25 or older, and adults could tote along just three total kids.

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026

After applying, she was invited to an industry party at an Essex nightclub, with her mother as a chaperone.

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

GGP, one of the largest mall owners in the U.S., views chaperone policies as regrettable but preferable to the disruptions caused by teen takeovers, a spokeswoman said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

“They are learning the building blocks. They are being the change that needs to be seen,” said chaperone Julio Roman, dad to a 6- and 9-year-old on the trip.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2025

He took her hand and then smiled at Ginika, as though to a nice chaperone whose job was now done.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

In Milford, Conn., Anthony Martiro, manager of the Innogoodshop, which sells trendy Asian tchotchkes and snacks, said chaperones have reduced the “mischief, mayhem and stealing” previously caused by groups of teenagers wandering the mall.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

Many malls only require chaperones on weekend afternoons and evenings or during extended school breaks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

Sporting brown berets and screen-printed vests with colorful hand-sewn badges, they followed chaperones inside as guests waiting in line recognized them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2026

And so there we were, standing like two prom chaperones in a long line of women all younger and thinner by comparison.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2025

Team Kyle’s chaperones, Mrs. Yunghans and Mr. Sharp, came over to join them.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• matron