chaplain
Americannoun
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an ecclesiastic attached to the chapel of a royal court, college, etc., or to a military unit.
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a person who says the prayer, invocation, etc., for an organization or at an assembly.
noun
Other Word Forms
- chaplaincy noun
- chaplainry noun
- chaplainship noun
Etymology
Origin of chaplain
before 1100; Middle English chapelain < Middle French < Late Latin cappellānus custodian of St. Martin's cloak ( chapel, -an ); replacing Old English capellan < Late Latin, as above
Explanation
A chaplain is usually a religious leader — a minister, rabbi, or other clergy member — who works outside of a church or temple. You can use the word chaplain to describe the minister who counsels patients at your local hospital. Or, a chaplain could also be a priest who lives and works with soldiers on a battlefield (a military chaplain). These days, many chaplains are non-denominational, not associated with any particular religion. The Latin root word, cappellanus, means "clergyman."
Vocabulary lists containing chaplain
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A San Mateo, Calif., chaplain spotted a break in a long line of cars, and pulled into the opening.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026
Returning to England, where Royalists and Parliamentarians were at war, Downing was appointed chaplain to Col.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026
The ruling outlined how Z had attended St Bede's school in Redhill in the 1980s where Tudor was chaplain and an RE teacher.
From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026
Schlanger served as a chaplain for the New South Wales correctional service and a major hospital, Chabad said.
From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025
“I didn’t mean that,” the chaplain answered, whispering again.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
