canter

¹ American  

[kan-ter] / ˈkæn tər /

noun

1. an easy gallop.

---

verb (used with or without object)

1. to move or ride at a canter.

canter ² American  

[kan-ter] / ˈkæn tər /

noun

1. a person who is much given to the use of cant.

---

canter British  

/ ˈkæntə /

noun

1. an easy three-beat gait of horses, etc, between a trot and a gallop in speed

2. easily; without effort

   he won at a canter

---

verb

1. to move or cause to move at a canter

Etymology

Origin of canter¹

First recorded in 1745–55; short for Canterbury to ride at a pace like that of Canterbury pilgrims

Origin of canter²

First recorded in 1870–75; cant ¹ + -er ¹

Explanation

To canter is to ride a horse at a speed between a trot and a gallop. When canter is a noun, it is a ride on a horse at that pace and so you can say to a friend, "Come with us for a canter!" As a verb, canter means to ride at the pace of a canter, which is a pretty easy rate of speed. In fact, the word comes from the phrase "Canterbury gallop" because in the Middle Ages people used to travel to the cathedral in Canterbury, England to visit the tomb of St. Thomas Becket. It was so popular an activity that the pace of the horses that the pilgrims rode on became known as the "Canterbury gallop" and the phrase was so commonly used that it was eventually shortened to canter.

Example Sentences

Five-time Champions League winners Barca struggled to find their rhythm in the first half but did enough after the break to clinch a top-eight league phase finish at a canter.

From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026

A nicely worked move sent Andrew Kellaway running through the Japan defence and he fed Flook to canter over the line.

From Barron's • Oct. 25, 2025

Tongue pinned Siraj lbw two balls later as they looked to wrap things up at a canter but Washington, on 17 from 23 balls when the ninth wicket fell, had other ideas.

From BBC • Aug. 2, 2025

He gave away a penalty for tackling an airborne Hugo Keenan before a bad defensive read opened the way for Lowe to canter through and set up Ireland's third try.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2025

She would canter up to the door on her pony, followed by a mounted livery servant.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë