CAVALIER Definition & Meaning

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cavalier

[kav-uh-leer, kav-uh-leer]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a horseman, especially a mounted soldier; knight.
one having the spirit or bearing of a knight; a courtly gentleman; gallant.
a man escorting a woman or acting as her partner in dancing.
(initial capital letter)��an adherent of Charles I of England in his contest with Parliament.

adjective

haughty, disdainful, or supercilious.
an arrogant and cavalier attitude toward others.
Synonyms: , , , ,
offhand or unceremonious.
The very dignified officials were confused by his cavalier manner.
(initial capital letter)��of or relating to the Cavaliers.
(initial capital letter)��of, relating to, or characteristic of the Cavalier poets or their work.

verb (used without object)

to play the cavalier.
to be haughty or domineering.

cavalier

/ ˌ��æ��əˈ��ɪə /

adjective

showing haughty disregard; offhand

noun

a gallant or courtly gentleman, esp one acting as a lady's escort
archaic��a horseman, esp one who is armed

Cavalier

/ ˌ��æ��əˈ��ɪə /

noun

a supporter of Charles I during the English Civil War Compare Roundhead

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

cavalierism noun
cavalierness noun
cavalierly adverb
uncavalier adjective
uncavalierly adverb
ˌ��ˈ�� adverb

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of cavalier¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French: “horseman, knight,” from Old Italian cavaliere, from Old Provençal, from Late Latin ��ܲ� “man on horseback,” equivalent to Latin caball(us) “horse” ( capercaillie ) + -��ܲ� -ary

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of cavalier¹

C16: from Italian cavaliere, from Old Provençal cavalier, from Late Latin ��ܲ� rider, from caballus horse, of obscure origin

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The problem, they say, is the administration’s seemingly cavalier treatment of an office that was funding work on urgent national security concerns.

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Millhiser says that some of this can be attributed to a turf war — the conservative legal community is not happy with the cavalier treatment of the judiciary by the Trump people.

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Republicans have been remarkably cavalier about the impact of cutting the expansion match.

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For 1968, which has been called “the year that shattered America,” such a compact of faith at the core of “Dark” — and a contract between strangers, no less — is no cavalier thing.

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Lutnick’s dismissal of the effect of delayed payments on millions of Americans was so crass and cavalier it would make Ayn Rand blush.

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Related 51�Թ�s

condescending��
curt��
disdainful��
haughty��
offhand��
supercilious��

Cavalcanti Cavalieri

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