Order of the Garter

American

noun

the highest order of British knighthood, instituted by Edward III about 1348.

Order of the Garter British

noun

Also called: the Garter. the highest order of English knighthood, open to women since 1987. It consists of the sovereign, 24 knight companions, and extra members created by statute See also Order of the Thistle

"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

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.

Andrew will also lose his Order of the Garter, the most senior knighthood in the British realm.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

He is also giving up membership of the Order of the Garter - the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in Britain.

From BBC • Oct. 20, 2025

It had been William who had already intervened to stop Andrew from walking in the Order of the Garter procession.

From BBC • Oct. 18, 2025

He will no longer be called the Duke of York, which he was given when he got married in 1986, and has given up membership of the Order of the Garter.

From BBC • Oct. 17, 2025

“I want to have an Order of Chivalry, like the Order of the Garter, which goes about fighting against Might Would you like to be one of those?”

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

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