cavalier

1 of 2

adjective

cav·​a·​lier ˌka-və-ˈlir How to pronounce cavalier (audio)
1
: marked by or given to offhand and often disdainful (see disdain entry 1) dismissal of important matters
a cavalier attitude toward money
has a cavalier disregard for the rights of others
2
3
a
capitalized : of or relating to the party of Charles I of England in his struggles with the Puritans and Parliament
b
: aristocratic
portrayed the plantation owner as a cavalier fop
c
capitalized : of or relating to the English Cavalier poets of the mid-17th century
cavalierism noun
cavalierly adverb

cavalier

2 of 2

noun

1
: a gentleman trained in arms and horsemanship
2
: a mounted soldier : knight
3
capitalized : an adherent of Charles I of England
4
: a lady's escort or dancing partner : gallant

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The Evolution of Cavalier

Mount up, fellow language caballeros! We think you’ll agree that the origins of cavalier make a great deal of horse sense. The noun cavalier—which traces back to the Late Latin word caballārius, meaning “horseback rider,” and even further to the Latin word for “work horse,” caballus—originally referred to a gentleman or knight trained in arms and horsemanship. The adjective trotted into English just a few decades after the noun, first describing those thought to embody qualities of gallantry and suaveness associated with such soldiers. However, the English Puritans later applied the noun with disdain to their adversaries, the swashbuckling royalist followers of Charles I, who sported longish hair and swords. Their use undoubtedly contributed to the adjective’s “flippant” sense, which is now the most common. To saddle someone (or their behavior, attitude, etc.) with the descriptor today is to say that they do not demonstrate the expected or required care for serious matters.

Examples of cavalier in a Sentence

Adjective They are too cavalier in their treatment of others. She has a cavalier attitude about spending money. He has a cavalier disregard for the rights of others. Noun a novel about the dashing cavaliers and gracious ladies of the South before the Civil War
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
That’s why many of crypto’s more cavalier coders headed to other blockchains to tinker and do things like build decentralized applications. Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2024 Lucas was shocked and hurt that his generous offers kept being rebuffed; the people who organized against him were indignant that a billionaire could be so cavalier about their public land. Elizabeth Blackwell, Longreads, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
The event kicked off with an opening dance, before the debutantes lined up for a waltz with their fathers, who were then passed onto their cavaliers for dancing with a live band. Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 1 Dec. 2024 Opal is described as a 5-pound red/brown cavapoo — a mix of a King Charles cavalier and a poodle. Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for cavalier 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from attributive use of cavalier entry 2

Noun

borrowed from French, "horseback rider, member of the gentry bearing arms, gallant," going back to Middle French, borrowed from later medieval Italian cavallere, cavaleru, cavalliere "horseback rider, mounted soldier, courtly gentleman accompanying a lady," borrowed from Old Occitan cavalier "horseman, mounted soldier, knight," going back to Late Latin caballārius "horseback rider, groom" (early Medieval Latin also "serf performing duties on horseback, mounted soldier"), from Latin caballus "work horse, gelding" + -ārius -ary entry 1 — more at cavalcade

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1641, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cavalier was in 1589

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Dictionary Entries Near cavalier

Cite this Entry

“Cavalier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cavalier. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

cavalier

1 of 2 noun
cav·​a·​lier ˌkav-ə-ˈli(ə)r How to pronounce cavalier (audio)
1
: a mounted soldier : knight
2
: a brave and courteous gentleman

cavalier

2 of 2 adjective
1
: lighthearted and charming in manner
2
: having an unconcerned or disdainful attitude about important matters
cavalierly adverb
cavalierness noun
Etymology

Noun

from early French cavalier "cavalier," from early Italian cavaliere (same meaning), derived from Latin caballarius "horseman," from earlier caballus "horse" — related to cavalry, chivalry see Word History at chivalry

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