chaplain

UK: /ˈtʃæplɪn/ US: /ˈtʃæplɪn/ ,(chap′lin)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

chap•lain /ˈtʃæplɪn/   n. [countable]

1. Religion a member of the clergy who serves with a military unit, or who works with the chapel of a college or hospital.

chap•lain•cy, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

chap•lain  (chap′lin), n. 

1. Religion an ecclesiastic attached to the chapel of a royal court, college, etc., or to a military unit.
2. Religion a person who says the prayer, invocation, etc., for an organization or at an assembly.

• Late Latin, as above
• Late Latin cappellānus custodian of St. Martin's cloak (see chapel, -an); replacing Old English capellan
• Middle French
• Middle English chapelain bef. 1100

chap′lain•cy, chap′lain•ship′, chap′lain•ry, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

chaplain / ˈtʃæplɪn/ noun

1. a member of the clergy attached to a private chapel of a prominent person or institution or ministering to a military body, professional group, etc

Etymology: 12th Century: from Old French chapelain, from Late Latin cappellānus, from cappella chapel

ˈchaplaincy, ˈchaplainˌship, ˈchaplainry noun