cavalier
Americannoun
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a horseman, especially a mounted soldier; knight.
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one having the spirit or bearing of a knight; a courtly gentleman; gallant.
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a man escorting a woman or acting as her partner in dancing.
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(initial capital letter) an adherent of Charles I of England in his contest with Parliament.
adjective
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haughty, disdainful, or supercilious.
an arrogant and cavalier attitude toward others.
- Synonyms:
- condescending, thoughtless, uncaring, offhand, indifferent
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offhand or unceremonious.
The very dignified officials were confused by his cavalier manner.
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(initial capital letter) of or relating to the Cavaliers.
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(initial capital letter) of, relating to, or characteristic of the Cavalier poets or their work.
verb (used without object)
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to play the cavalier.
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to be haughty or domineering.
adjective
noun
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a gallant or courtly gentleman, esp one acting as a lady's escort
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archaic a horseman, esp one who is armed
noun
Other Word Forms
- cavalierism noun
- cavalierly adverb
- cavalierness noun
- uncavalier adjective
- uncavalierly adverb
Etymology
Origin of cavalier
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French: “horseman, knight,” from Old Italian cavaliere, from Old Provençal, from Late Latin caballārius “man on horseback,” equivalent to Latin caball(us) “horse” ( capercaillie ) + -ārius -ary
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In columns and on TV, he warns that Hegseth’s cavalier attitude toward the rule of law and civilian protections is corroding military professionalism.
From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026
While the narrative glides along the original contours—Johnny grows warmer to Linda and reveals an unworshipful, even cavalier attitude to money-making that stirs trouble—Mr. Greenberg has rewritten virtually every line of the play.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026
“They were cavalier and they were naughty and they were learning. They got to an age where it was time for them to know better.”
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 2, 2025
A stunned England woke Sunday to savage criticism after their meek capitulation in the first Ashes Test, branded "brainless" and "damaged" by former greats after their cavalier approach backfired.
From Barron's • Nov. 23, 2025
He's so smug with his half explanations, and so cavalier about the fact that he's dragged me into this.
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
