chaplain

noun

chap·​lain ˈcha-plən 

1

: a clergyman in charge of a chapel

2

: a clergyman 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 clergyman 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 longtime football chaplain for Auburn University died tragically over the weekend after falling into a local lake. —Danielle Jennings, People.com, 16 Dec. 2024

In the news Barry Black, who has been chaplain of the U.S. Senate since 2003, has been hospitalized and is under the care of the Capitol's physician after suffering a bleed on his brain, said Rev. Lisa Schultz, Black's chief of staff. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 14 Dec. 2024

College basketball fans aren’t too pleased with Loyola Chicago men’s basketball after players were seen snubbing team chaplain Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt following their dominant win over Eastern Michigan on Tuesday night. —Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 5 Dec. 2024

Crisis counselors from the Butte County Behavioral Health Department, chaplains and representatives from the Seventh-day Adventist Church were helping address the immediate needs of students and faculty at the school, Honea said. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024

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

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)