equites

American

[ek-wi-teez] / ˈɛk wɪˌtiz /

plural noun

Roman History.

mounted military units; cavalry.
members of a specially privileged class derived from the ancient Roman cavalry and having status intermediate between those of senatorial rank and the common people.

equites British

/ ˈɛkwɪˌtiːz /

plural noun

the cavalry
Also called: knights. members of a social order distinguished by wealth and ranking just below the senators

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of equites

< Latin, plural of eques horseman, derivative of equus horse

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The April tariff-ignited market rout reverberated across equites and fixed-income markets.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

Economically, this mechanism is not unlike other repo financing markets with risky underlying collateral, such as equites or mortgage-backed securities.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 6, 2025

“We advise to equites and bonds — assets that have earnings,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 11, 2025

He deprived the senators of their military and provincial commands, which were transferred to equites.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 4 "G" to "Gaskell, Elizabeth" by Various

For the equites equo publico high moral character, good health and the equestrian fortune were necessary.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 7 "Equation" to "Ethics" by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023