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

Unity Mitford—conceived in the town of Swastika, Canada, with the middle name of Valkyrie—seemed destined to be a Nazi from birth, and eventually shot herself in the head after Britain declared war on her beloved Führer. —George Pendle, Air Mail, 21 June 2025

American audiences probably recognize him best from Valkyrie (2008) and Zack Snyder's zombie heist film Army of the Dead (2021). —Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 20 June 2025

Amber Waterman, 45, of Pineville kidnapped Ashley Bush, who was pregnant, and caused the deaths of Bush and her unborn child -- Valkyrie. U.S. District Judge Stephen Bough sentenced Jamie Waterman to 75 months in federal prison Tuesday during a hearing in Springfield. —Tracy Neal, Arkansas Online, 17 June 2025

Cale joins the Valkyrie’s motley crew that includes alluring human pilot Akima Kunimoto (Barrymore) and a trio of aliens: first mate Preed (Lane), astro-scientist Gune (Leguizamo), and weapons expert Stith (Garofalo). —Jeff Spry, Space.com, 16 June 2025

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

Rhymes for Valkyrie

• chia
• mia
• pia
• rhea
• shia
• stria
• thea
• zia
• aliya
• aliyah
• althea
• apnoea

Kids Definition

Valkyrie

noun

Val·​kyr·​ie

val-ˈkir-ē

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