canter

¹ American  

[kan-ter] / ˈkæn tər /

noun

1. an easy gallop.

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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.

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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

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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

Example Sentences

Pre-tournament favourites England and France both won at a canter in the opening round, meaning a final-day meeting between the sides in Paris looms large.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026

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

Capuozzo later turned creator, thrillingly slicing through England with a scalpel-sharp change of direction to open up a route for Exeter's Ross Vintcent to canter over.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2025

A long canter later I came up over a hill and looked down onto a crossroads at the bottom of a small grassy valley.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss