Valkyrie

noun

Val·​ky·​rie ˈval-k(ə-)rē 

also

val-ˈkir-ē  val-ˈkī-rē 

: any of the maidens of Odin who choose the heroes to be slain in battle and conduct them to Valhalla

Examples of Valkyrie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ultron, Blade, Jean Grey, Emma Frost, Captain Marvel, Hit Monkey, Angela, The Hood, Valkyrie, MODOK, Valkyrie Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day’s news in your inbox every weekday. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

Dog Breed: Labrador retriever Age: 3 years, 7 months Meet Valkyrie, or Val to her friends. —Trish Stinger, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 2025

Waterman, 44, of Pineville, MO., is charged with two counts of kidnapping in connection with the deaths of Ashley Bush and her unborn child, Valkyrie Grace Willis, according to court documents. —Tracy Neal, arkansasonline.com, 31 Dec. 2024

Even with sportsbooks in the Liberty’s favor, the team will have to find a replacement — whether on the market or not — for do-it-all reserve Kayla Thornton, who the Golden State Valkyrie selected in the December expansion draft. —Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 28 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German & Old Norse; German Walküre, borrowed from Old Norse valkyrja, going back to Germanic *wala-kuzjōn- (whence Old English wælcyrige "war goddess, sorceress"), from *wala- (whence Old Norse valr "the slain," Old English wæl) + -kuzjōn-, nominal derivative from the base of *keusan- "to choose" (whence Old English cēosan) — more at valhalla, choose

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Valkyrie

noun

Val·​kyr·​ie

val-ˈkir-ē

: any of the maidens in Norse mythology who take slain heroes to Valhalla