paladin

American  

[pal-uh-din] / ˈpæl ə dɪn /

noun

paladins plural

1. any one of the 12 legendary peers or knightly champions in attendance on Charlemagne.

2. any knightly or heroic champion.

3. any determined advocate or defender of a noble cause.

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paladin British  

/ ˈpælədɪn /

noun

1. one of the legendary twelve peers of Charlemagne's court

2. a knightly champion

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• paladins
  plural

Etymology

Origin of paladin

First recorded in 1585–95; from French, from Italian paladino, from Late Latin palātīnus “imperial functionary,” noun use of adjective; see origin at palatine ¹

Compare meaning

How does paladin compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• paladin vs. warrior

Explanation

The noun paladin means a champion of a cause. If you are a paladin for animal welfare, you probably spend your free time volunteering at the local shelter and take part in fundraisers that help keep it going. Anyone who fights hard for something they believe in can be called a paladin, although the word has old-fashioned associations. While the French word paladin means warrior, it was used specifically starting in the late 1500s to mean "one of the 12 knights in attendance on Charlemagne." As time went on, its meaning grew to include any chivalrous or heroic person.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

paladin paladins

In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck said it works “surprisingly, sometimes delightfully well — even if you have no clue what a paladin or Red Wizard or Harper is.”

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 20, 2023

This time the task wasn’t limited to creating uniquely designed characters inhabiting a single universe, but entire worlds based on the myriad comic book sagas that have reinterpreted Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s arachnid paladin.

From New York Times ● Jun. 1, 2023

"Bridgerton" established Page as the unattainable dreamboat everybody wants to be around, prime attributes for a paladin, a class requiring high charisma.

From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2023

That said, both channel a similar irreverence for fantasy adventures — and make an argument for always having a paladin in your party.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 11, 2023

It was all very foolish, but I had pictured him as a paladin in armor, who would have diversions, too, but who would lay them aside to go forth and redress wrong.

From The Lucky Piece A Tale of the North Woods by Paine, Albert Bigelow

Then we have Regé-Jean Page’s Xenk Yendar, a paladin so devout and good that it makes him insufferable – which is precisely how paladins should come across in mixed company.

From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2023

The stakes have never been higher for the Voltron alliance, which the trailer shows pretty well — it’s set up as a series of radio transmissions from the 5 paladins reacting to the coming threat.

From The Verge ● Oct. 8, 2018

As two of the world's most important central bankers, Bernanke and King were members of an exclusive group of economic paladins, whose policies and even personal pronouncements could sway the world's financial markets in seconds.

From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2014

Whistle-blowers are our paladins and they need more protection.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 21, 2011

Perhaps there was something childish about all the paladins of Arthur’s story—if being simple b the same as childishness.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White