chivalry

American  

[shiv-uhl-ree] / ˈʃɪv əl ri /

noun

• chivalries
  plural

1. the sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms.

2. the rules and customs of medieval knighthood.

3. the medieval system or institution of knighthood.

4. a group of knights.

5. gallant warriors or gentlemen.

   fair ladies and noble chivalry.

6. Archaic. a chivalrous act; gallant deed.

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chivalry British  

/ ˈʃɪvəlrɪ /

noun

1. the combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight, esp courage, honour, justice, and a readiness to help the weak

2. courteous behaviour, esp towards women

3. the medieval system and principles of knighthood

4. knights, noblemen, etc, collectively

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chivalry Cultural  

1. The methods of training and standards of behavior for knights in the Middle Ages. The code of chivalry emphasized bravery, military skill, generosity in victory, piety, and courtesy to women. (Compare courtly love.)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unchivalry
  noun
• chivalric
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• chivalries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of chivalry

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English chivalrie, from Anglo-French, Old French chevalerie, from chevalier chevalier + -ie -y ³

Explanation

Men behaving courteously toward women — holding the door for them, offering them their jackets when it's cold — is called chivalry. Many women consider chivalry a lost art. Nice work, fellas. Cavalry (soldiers on horseback) and chivalry have the same root: the Medieval Latin word caballarius, meaning "horseman" or "knight." In the Middle Ages, a knight was expected to be brave, loyal, and to open the tavern door for his date. Picture a knight kneeling before a maiden and kissing her hand. It's a classic image of chivalry from the storybooks. Some women wonder whether chivalry has ever existed anywhere else.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chivalry chivalries

He picks me up from Los Angeles International Airport — an act of chivalry that deserves knighthood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026

Whether we are meant to believe or dismiss this apologia for the chivalry of the Old South is debatable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

He insisted that he was an independent artist, proving the point by providing decadent, images for an edition of Thomas Malory’s paean to heroic chivalry, “Le Morte d’Arthur.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025

He can no longer sign off as the Duke of York, or put "KG", a Knight of the Garter, after his name, with a flourish of medieval chivalry.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2025

If it was so easy to lead one’s country in various directions, as if she was a pig on a string, why had he failed to lead her into chivalry, into justice and into peace?

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

Man has his courtesies of war, and his chivalries of war; he does not strike the unarmed man; he spares the woman and the child.

From Sanitary and Social Lectures, etc by Charles Kingsley

"Monsieur, you overwhelm me with chivalries," she replied; "I shall be enchanted."

From A Chair on the Boulevard by Leonard Merrick

Is it possible that there are knights-errant now in the world, and that there are histories printed of real chivalries?

From The History of Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Frantic with perplexity, muddled with fear, torn by conflicting chivalries, the Woodland Girl stared back and forth from Adele Reitzen's agonized plea to the grim, inscrutable gleam in Brian Baird's eyes.

From The Sick-a-Bed Lady And Also Hickory Dock, The Very Tired Girl, The Happy-Day, Something That Happened in October, The Amateur Lover, Heart of The City, The Pink Sash, Woman's Only Business by Eleanor Hallowell Abbott

I have seen, too, generous sacrifices and tender considerations, to which the boasted chivalries of Sydney and Edward were childish ostentation.

From Cannibals all! or, Slaves without masters by George Fitzhugh