# chaplain

/ˈtʃæpɫən/ (US) · /tʃˈæplɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chaplain
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. religious support provider

noun · CEFR B2

a religious leader who works in a place like a hospital, prison, or the military to help people with their faith and feelings.

For teachers: a member of the clergy or a religious body officially attached to an institution to provide pastoral care.

- The hospital chaplain visited the patients every morning to offer comfort and prayer.
- The military chaplain provided essential emotional support to the troops during their long deployment overseas.

Usage: Often used with a modifying noun to show the institution, such as 'prison chaplain' or 'army chaplain'.

### 2. secular support provider

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a person who provides emotional support and guidance in a professional setting without using religion.

For teachers: a person who performs pastoral or welfare duties in a secular context, focusing on ethics and emotional well-being rather than theology.

- The university hired a secular chaplain to support students of all backgrounds.
- In modern corporate environments, a humanist chaplain may be employed to facilitate ethical discussions and provide non-religious grief counselling.

Teaching tip: This sense is becoming more common in modern English as institutions move toward inclusive, non-religious support systems.

## Examples

- The hospital chaplain visited the sick patients every morning.
- The army chaplain held a service for the soldiers before they deployed to the front lines.
- In times of crisis, the chaplain serves as a vital source of comfort and moral guidance for those facing uncertainty and fear.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.