# padre

/ˈpæˌdɹeɪ/ (US) · /pˈɑːdɹeɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/padre
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. military chaplain

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a religious leader who works in the army, navy, or air force.

For teachers: a member of the clergy who provides spiritual support to military personnel. Often used as a form of address within the armed forces.

- The soldiers often went to the padre when they needed someone to talk to.
- During the long deployment, the padre became a vital source of emotional and spiritual support for the entire battalion.

### 2. priest

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a title for a priest in the Catholic or Anglican church.

For teachers: a title or form of address for a priest, particularly in Spanish- or Italian-speaking contexts or within specific high-church traditions.

- The local padre walked through the village, greeting everyone he met.
- The community looked to the padre for guidance during the restoration of the historic mission church.

### 3. baseball player

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a player for the San Diego Padres baseball team.

For teachers: a member of the San Diego Padres, a professional Major League Baseball team based in California.

- The young pitcher was excited to finally play as a Padre in the big leagues.
- The veteran Padre retired after a decade of service to the San Diego franchise, leaving behind a legacy of community involvement.

## Examples

- The soldiers went to see the padre before the mission.
- After the battle, the padre visited the wounded soldiers in the field hospital to offer comfort and prayers.
- While the role is primarily spiritual, a military padre often serves as a vital bridge between the command structure and the emotional well-being of the rank-and-file troops.

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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.