chaperone

American  

[shap-uh-rohn] / ˈʃæp əˌroʊn /

Or chaperon

noun

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

• chaperonage
  noun
• chaperonless
  adjective

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

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

These chaperone policies—sometimes called youth escort or parental guidance policies—started decades ago and have increased alongside the rise in mall disruptions over the years.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Arginine also acts as a safe chemical chaperone, helping proteins maintain their proper structure.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

A friend of hers alerted another chaperone and Rolling Hills High teacher, Jerry Kestenberg, who then summoned Michelle for a one-on-one meeting.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2025

First, she berates Carla, who as the oldest was in charge and had orders to stick with Manuel and Fifi as their in-car chaperone.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

Related Words

• matron