cavalier

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

noun

1. a horseman, especially a mounted soldier; knight.

2. one having the spirit or bearing of a knight; a courtly gentleman; gallant.

3. a man escorting a woman or acting as her partner in dancing.

4. (initial capital letter),  an adherent of Charles I of England in his contest with Parliament.

adjective

1. haughty, disdainful, or supercilious.

   an arrogant and cavalier attitude toward others.

   Synonyms: condescending, thoughtless, uncaring, offhand, indifferent

2. offhand or unceremonious.

   The very dignified officials were confused by his cavalier manner.

3. (initial capital letter),  of or relating to the Cavaliers.

4. (initial capital letter),  of, relating to, or characteristic of the Cavalier poets or their work.

verb (used without object)

1. to play the cavalier.

2. to be haughty or domineering.

cavalier

¹

/ ˌkævəˈlɪə /

adjective

1. showing haughty disregard; offhand

noun

1. a gallant or courtly gentleman, esp one acting as a lady's escort

2. archaic,  a horseman, esp one who is armed

Cavalier

²

/ ˌkævəˈlɪə /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• cavalierism noun
• cavalierness noun
• cavalierly adverb
• uncavalier adjective
• uncavalierly adverb

Word 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 caballārius “man on horseback,” equivalent to Latin caball(us) “horse” ( capercaillie ) + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavalier¹

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

Example Sentences

I think of the cavalier way Republican lawmakers have denied claims about the detention camp’s conditions.

From Salon

Judge Vanessa Francis said that the pair had a "cavalier attitude" and were equally culpable.

From BBC

The Tory MP was highly critical of Lord Cameron, who made the decision to hold the referendum after pressure from Eurosceptics, saying he had been "extremely cavalier".

From BBC

Their batting was sensible, rather than cavalier, yet the hosts still scored in excess of four an over.

From BBC

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

From Salon

Related Words

• condescending 
• curt 
• disdainful 
• haughty 
• offhand 
• supercilious