chaperone

or chap·er·on

[ shap-uh-rohn ]

noun

1. a person, usually a married or older woman, who, for propriety, accompanies a young unmarried woman in public or who attends a party of young unmarried men and women.

   Synonyms: escort

2. any adult present in order to maintain order or propriety at an activity of young people, as at a school dance.
3. a round headdress of stuffed cloth with wide cloth streamers that fall from the crown or are draped around it, worn in the 15th century.

verb (used with object)

1. to attend or accompany as chaperone.

   Synonyms: escort

verb (used without object)

1. to act as chaperone.

Other Words From

• chap·er·on·age [shap, -, uh, -roh-nij], noun
• chaper·onless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chaperone¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Middle French: “hood, cowl,” equivalent to chape cape ¹ + -eron noun suffix; figurative sense from French (18th century)

Example Sentences

Osinoff said a chaperone was present during the pelvic exam, and “there was no indication that the exam was more uncomfortable than usual,” nor was any injury alleged.

From Los Angeles Times

A chaperone “confirmed that nothing unusual had happened during the entire visit, except that the patient departed the office without completing the exam,” Osinoff said.

From Los Angeles Times

A recovered video file showed Johnson adjusting the camera inside another bathroom at a junior high school Bible camp, where he worked as a chaperone.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of her other most memorable roles include the 1985 Merchant Ivory film A Room With a View, in which she played the chaperone Charlotte Barlett, accompanying Helen Bonham Carter's Lucy Honeychurch to Italy.

From BBC

Researchers, who were accompanied by a chaperone for safety reasons, wore Meta’s headsets while chatting with people, walking around campus and cooking food.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• matron