# chaplain

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈt͡ʃæp.lɪn/ · frequency rank #16,432

## Definitions
1. 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.
2. 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.

## Easily confused with
- **Chapman** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chaplain-vs-chapman)
- **Chaplin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chaplain-vs-chaplin)
- **complain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chaplain-vs-complain)
- **Chastain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chaplain-vs-chastain)
- **Chapin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chapin-vs-chaplain)
- **Caplan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/caplan-vs-chaplain)
- **captain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/captain-vs-chaplain)
- **Champlain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/champlain-vs-chaplain)

## Common misspellings (12)
`cahplain`, `cchaplain`, `chalpain`, `chapalin`, `chaplainn`, `chaplani`, `chaplian`, `chapllain`, `chapplain`, `chhaplain`, `chpalain`, `hcaplain`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/chaplain