Definition

Noun: A hospital chaplain is a religious minister or spiritual caregiver who provides pastoral care, emotional support, and religious services to patients, their families, and staff within a hospital setting. Their role is to offer comfort, counsel, and spiritual guidance regardless of a person's specific faith tradition.

Usage

The term is used to identify the specific role and location of a chaplain's ministry. It functions as a compound noun where "hospital" specifies the type of chaplain.

Examples

• The hospital chaplain visited the patient before surgery to offer a prayer.
• She spoke with the hospital chaplain about her spiritual concerns during her recovery.
• The role of a hospital chaplain often involves supporting people through crisis and grief.

Advanced Usage

• The term highlights a specialized field of chaplaincy within clinical pastoral education (CPE).
• Hospital chaplains are typically part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team.

Variants and Related Words

• Chaplain: The general term for a clergy member serving in an institution (e.g., military, prison, university).
• Pastoral care: The broader activity of offering spiritual support and comfort, which is the core duty of a hospital chaplain.

Synonyms

• Clergy in a hospital
• Pastoral caregiver (in a hospital)
• Spiritual care provider (in a hospital)

Notes on Meaning

This is a specific, compound noun. The core meaning is defined by the combination of the two words: a chaplain whose assigned place of work and ministry is a hospital.

Noun

1. a chaplain in a hospital