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)
Examples of chaplain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
An army chaplain had sent the photo to Oma after her husband had been killed in combat.
—
Alex Poppe
july 25, Literary Hub, 25 July 2025
Soliman, a former chaplain at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on July 9, about a month after the government revoked his asylum status.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 23 July 2025
An effort to allow Indiana's public schools to hire religious chaplains is back at the General Assembly, reigniting rigorous debate over the separation of church and state.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Along with Garcia, five correctional officers and former prison chaplain James Highhouse have either pleaded guilty or been convicted of abuse charges.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chaplain
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Alex Poppe
july 25, Literary Hub, 25 July 2025
Soliman, a former chaplain at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on July 9, about a month after the government revoked his asylum status.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 23 July 2025
An effort to allow Indiana's public schools to hire religious chaplains is back at the General Assembly, reigniting rigorous debate over the separation of church and state.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Along with Garcia, five correctional officers and former prison chaplain James Highhouse have either pleaded guilty or been convicted of abuse charges.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chaplain
Cite this Entry
“Chaplain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaplain. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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)
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