chaplain

American  

[chap-lin] / ˈtʃæp lɪn /

noun

1. an ecclesiastic attached to the chapel of a royal court, college, etc., or to a military unit.

2. a person who says the prayer, invocation, etc., for an organization or at an assembly.

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chaplain British  

/ ˈtʃæplɪn /

noun

1. a Christian clergyman attached to a private chapel of a prominent person or institution or ministering to a military body, professional group, etc

   a military chaplain

   a prison chaplain

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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

Example Sentences

“It got worse,” said the College of Biblical Studies’s athletic director, Michael Haywood, who also serves as a chaplain.

From The Wall Street Journal

A San Mateo, Calif., chaplain spotted a break in a long line of cars, and pulled into the opening.

From Los Angeles Times

“How our men are dying, told by chaplain,” I read, and I pick that newspaper up.

From Literature

Returning to England, where Royalists and Parliamentarians were at war, Downing was appointed chaplain to Col.

From The Wall Street Journal

The alarm was first raised over Pierce's behaviour by male students at Swansea University in 1986 where Pierce, now 85, was a chaplain.

From BBC

Related Words

• cleric
• pastor
• preacher
• priest
• rabbi