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Excalibur

American  
[ek-skal-uh-ber] / ɛkˈskæl ə bər /

noun

  1. Arthurian Legend. the magic sword of King Arthur.


Excalibur British  
/ ɛkˈskælɪbə /

noun

  1. (in Arthurian legend) the magic sword of King Arthur

"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

Excalibur Cultural  
  1. The sword of King Arthur (see also Arthur). In one version of the legends of Arthur, he proved his right to rule by pulling Excalibur out of a stone. In another version, he received Excalibur from a maiden, the Lady of the Lake, to whom he returned it at the end of his life.


Etymology

Origin of Excalibur

C14: from Old French Escalibor, from Medieval Latin Caliburnus, from Welsh Caledvwlch, perhaps related to Irish Caladbolg a legendary sword (literally: hard belly, hence, voracious)

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.

It will be an in-demand piece of equipment, but it’s not quite as unique as King Arthur’s Excalibur.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 24, 2026

He received a similar awestruck reception last week, when he arrived at West Coast Customs to inspect a 1977 Excalibur roadster he had taken in for restoration.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

It was dubbed Operation Excalibur, in honor of the legendary sword of King Arthur that granted him divine right to rule, a point also included in court documents.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 2, 2025

Excalibur Drive, in north Cardiff received the most requests - 207 from 26 residents, but it did not qualify, as it surrounds numerous properties and community facilities.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2025

"I thought Excalibur would have been a bit...bigger?"

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda