chaplain vs chaplin

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chaplain or chaplin?

What is the difference between chaplain and chaplin?

chaplain means "a clergyman ministering to some institution". chaplin means "English comedian and film maker; portrayed a downtrodden little man in baggy pants and bowler hat (1889-1977)". They are pronounced identically — /ˈtʃæplən/ — so only the spelling and the meaning separate them.

Which is more common, chaplain or chaplin?

Neither is markedly more common — both sit in the "Familiar" band.

Are chaplain and chaplin pronounced the same?

Yes. Both are /ˈtʃæplən/, said CHA-pluhn. Words that sound alike and are spelled differently are homophones, and they are the commonest source of written mix-ups in English.

Can chaplain and chaplin be used in the same place in a sentence?

Both work as nouns, so they are grammatically interchangeable. That is exactly what makes the meaning difference worth checking.

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