1
a(1)
: a mounted man-at-arms serving a feudal superior
especially
: a man ceremonially inducted into special military rank usually after completing service as page and squire
(2)
: a man honored by a sovereign for merit and in Great Britain ranking below a baronet
(3)
: a person of antiquity equal to a knight in rank
b
: a man devoted to the service of a lady as her attendant or champion
c
: a member of an order or society
2
: either of two pieces of each color in a set of chessmen having the power to make an L-shaped move of two squares in one row and one square in a perpendicular row over squares that may be occupied
Examples of knight in a Sentence
Noun
He was made a knight.
Verb
He is to be knighted by the Queen for his career as an actor.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 17 Jan. 2025
In this 2019 fantasy rom-com, a high school science teacher named Brooke (Hudgens) tries to help Sir Cole (Josh Whitehouse) — a handsome medieval knight who magically gets transported to the present day — how to survive the modern world and return back home.
—Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Nick Romano, EW.com, 30 Jan. 2025
He’d previously been knighted, and, separately, appointed for life to the Order of Merit, an élite cultural coterie of twenty-four, chosen by the reigning monarch.
—Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for knight 
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Noun
Other books portray a girl’s anxiety about giving a valentine to another girl, a prince’s love for a knight, and a transgender boy’s journey to share his gender identity with his family.
—Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 17 Jan. 2025
In this 2019 fantasy rom-com, a high school science teacher named Brooke (Hudgens) tries to help Sir Cole (Josh Whitehouse) — a handsome medieval knight who magically gets transported to the present day — how to survive the modern world and return back home.
—Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
In that film, his character bequeathed his signature vibranium shield to Mackie's Sam. Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier officially knighted Sam as the new Cap, and his story continues in next month's movie Captain America: Brave New World.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 30 Jan. 2025
He’d previously been knighted, and, separately, appointed for life to the Order of Merit, an élite cultural coterie of twenty-four, chosen by the reigning monarch.
—Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for knight
Dictionary Entries Near knight
Cite this Entry
“Knight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knight. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
knight
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a warrior of olden times who fought on horseback, served a king, held a special military rank, and swore to behave in a noble way
b
: a man honored by a sovereign for merit and in Great Britain ranking below a baronet
2
: a chess piece that makes an L-shaped move
knightly
adjective or adverb
-lē
knight
2 of 2 verb
: to make a knight of
Etymology
Noun
Old English cniht "boy, attendant, warrior"
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