joust

American  

[joust, juhst, joost] / dʒaʊst, dʒʌst, dʒust /

noun

1. a combat in which two knights on horseback attempted to unhorse each other with blunted lances.

2. this type of combat fought in a highly formalized manner as part of a tournament.

3. jousts, a tournament.

4. a personal competition or struggle.

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verb (used without object)

1. to contend in a joust or tournament.

2. to contend, compete, or struggle.

   The candidates will joust in a television debate.

joust British  

/ dʒaʊst /

noun

1. a combat between two mounted knights tilting against each other with lances. A tournament consisted of a series of such engagements

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verb

1. (intr; often foll by against or with) to encounter or engage in such a tournament

   he jousted with five opponents

Other Word Forms

• jouster noun

Etymology

Origin of joust

1250–1300; (v.) Middle English justen, jousten < Old French juster, joster, jouster to tilt in the lists < Vulgar Latin *juxtāre to approach, clash, derivative of Latin juxtā approaching, bordering; (noun) Middle English juste, jouste < Old French juste, etc., derivative of juster

Example Sentences

Image: This photo is an artist's impression of the cosmic joust, showing how the galaxy on the right hosts a quasar in the centre.

From Space Scoop • May 21, 2025

As such, seeing him host Oliver on Tuesday was a bit of magic Colbert's joust with Monday guest, Neil deGrasse Tyson couldn't quite match.

From Salon • Oct. 9, 2023

Local 99 declared victory Sunday in the legal joust.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2023

This time, the Beast of Bolsover and Madam Speaker perform a verbal joust in the form of a rap battle.

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2022

“Oh, dear!” exclaimed the Wart, feeling ashamed that his blood-thirstiness had been responsible for making these two knights joust before him.

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