chaplain

noun

chap·​lain ˈcha-plən How to pronounce chaplain (audio)
1
: a clergyperson in charge of a chapel
2
: a clergyperson 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 clergyperson appointed to assist a bishop (as at a liturgical function)
chaplaincy noun

Examples of chaplain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some floor aides and police officers also had to stay up all night to accommodate the speech, Senate chaplain Barry Black said. Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 2 Apr. 2025 For the premiere episode of the show’s final season, McBride came up with his most audacious stylistic detour yet: a stand-alone prologue set in 1862 that depicts one of the Gemstones’ ancestors conning his way into a chaplain position during the Civil War. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025 The 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX undoubtedly was tough to watch, but Chiefs chaplain Marcellus Casey shared an uplifting message about the team in an Instagram post. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2025 Ukrainian protestant pastors have volunteered widely as military chaplains during the war, Liudmyla Filipovych, a Ukrainian scholar of religion, said in an interview. Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chaplain

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of chaplain was in the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chaplain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaplain. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

chaplain

noun
chap·​lain ˈchap-lən How to pronounce chaplain (audio)
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)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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