chaplain

C1 Topic:People & Society

US /ˈtʃæplɪn/ UK /ˈtʃæplɪn/ See IPA manual

Freq #13071

Meanings

1

noun
a member of the clergy or another religious representative appointed to serve an institution, group, or private household

The hospital chaplain offered support to patients of several faiths.
2

noun
a nonreligious adviser who provides comparable pastoral or emotional care within an organization

The university appointed a humanist chaplain for students seeking secular support.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a member of the clergy or... clergypersonpastoral minister

2 noun · a nonreligious adviser who... pastoral adviser

Word family

Derived forms chaplaincychaplainship

Related forms chapel clergypastoral care

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

prison chaplain
a religious minister who provides spiritual support within a prison

Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle English chapeleyn, through Old French chapelain, from Medieval Latin cappellanus. The Latin word was connected with cappella ("chapel"), originally the shrine housing the cloak of Saint Martin of Tours; its custodian's title broadened to clergy serving a chapel or institution.

Topics

People & Society

External links

# chaplain

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈtʃæplɪn/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtʃæplɪn/
**Frequency rank:** 13071

## Meanings
1. a member of the clergy or another religious representative appointed to serve an institution, group, or private household
2. a nonreligious adviser who provides comparable pastoral or emotional care within an organization

## Examples
- The hospital chaplain offered support to patients of several faiths.
- The university appointed a humanist chaplain for students seeking secular support.

## Synonyms
- clergyperson
- pastoral minister
- pastoral adviser

## Derived Forms
- chaplaincy
- chaplainship

## Related Forms
- chapel
- clergy
- pastoral care

## Etymology
From Middle English chapeleyn, through Old French chapelain, from Medieval Latin cappellanus. The Latin word was connected with cappella ("chapel"), originally the shrine housing the cloak of Saint Martin of Tours; its custodian's title broadened to clergy serving a chapel or institution.

## Topics
- People & Society

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