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''chaplain'' ▫ᴱᴺ｜Definition｜1st｜20260320113731-00-⌔
chaplain - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
English
Noun
chaplain (plural chaplains)
- A member of a religious body (who is often, although not always, of the clergy) officially assigned to provide pastoral care at an institution, group, private chapel, etc.
- ✤ The Railway Mission’s regionally based chaplains perform the role of impartial ‘friend’ to anyone working on the railway, regardless of their faith.1
- A person without religious affiliation who carries out similar duties in a secular context.
Etymology
From Middle English chapeleyn, from Old French chapelain, from Medieval Latin, Late Latin cappellānus, from cappella. Doublet of capelin. Displaced Old English handprēost.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈt͡ʃæp.lɪn/
- Audio (US): 🔊
Printed 2026-06-28.
(echo:: @ ⌗)
Link to original Footnotes
2021 September 8, Stefanie Foster, “Network News: Countdown is on to the National Rail Awards 2021”, in RAIL, number 939, page 19: ↩
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