knighthood
Americannoun
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knighthoods
plural
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the rank or dignity of a knight.
to confer knighthood upon him.
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the profession or vocation of a knight.
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knightly character or qualities.
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the body of knights.
noun
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the order, dignity, or rank of a knight
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the qualities of a knight; knightliness
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knights collectively
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of knighthood
before 900; Middle English knighthod, Old English cnihthād. See knight, -hood
Explanation
Knighthood is an official title given to British men who have performed some kind of extraordinary service. When someone receives a knighthood, they're formally addressed as "Sir." The state of being a knight is knighthood, and the title itself is also known as a knighthood. Elton John, Sean Connery, and Charlie Chaplin are among the famous performers who have received knighthoods from Queen Elizabeth. Back in the Middle Ages, a knighthood could only be earned through heroism on the battlefield or by working as an knight's apprentice for years. The Old English source of knighthood was cnihthad, "the period between childhood and manhood."
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.
See Examples For:
Also a knighthood and a castle and certainly social status that ensures he won’t be treated like scum.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
An honour such as a knighthood can be removed on the advice of a body known as the Forfeiture Committee if the holder is deemed to have brought the honours system into disrepute.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
On 24 June, Donaldson asked for his knighthood to be forfeited and tendered his resignation from the Privy Council with immediate effect.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
He was later made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007 and accepted a knighthood in 2022 after changes to New Zealand's honours system allowed recipients to adopt titular honours.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
Yet it seemed like only yesterday that he had been raised to knighthood, after the tourney at King’s Landing.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
There were also knighthoods exchanged between King Charles and Pope Leo, but at the moment there might be a question about the value of honours.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2025
Darts players Luke Littler and Luke Humphries have become MBEs in the King's Birthday Honours, while Virginia Wade is made a CBE and knighthoods are confirmed for David Beckham and Billy Boston.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2025
The move follows growing frustration over the lack of rugby league knighthoods or damehoods, with a group of cross-party MPs suggesting the lack of top honours was linked to snobbery.
From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2025
There have been many other sporting knighthoods and damehoods, including in athletics, yachting, football, golf, tennis, horse racing, cycling and rowing.
From BBC ● May 30, 2025
Tyrion had done what he could to buy their continued loyalty, promising Bronn and a dozen of his best men lands and knighthoods when the battle was won.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
