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

Explanation

To joust is to fight against someone, usually using lances, on horseback. Such a contest is called a joust. If you've ever seen a movie or TV show about medieval times, you might have seen two knights jousting. This is a sport that takes place on horseback and involves lances, which are long like spears. The knights charge each other and try to hit each other with the lances and knock each other off the horse. This type of contest — which usually involves a tournament — is called a joust. Jousting is as old as the Middle Ages.

Example Sentences

Many MPs believe that Badenoch has for some months now been an impressive combatant at Prime Minister's Questions, her weekly joust with the prime minister.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

Attending a joust is one of the quintessential renaissance festival experiences.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

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

But only some ply the style Walters created with some semblance of her skill, if not always or often with the sharp points and jabs with which she used to joust.

From Salon • Jan. 7, 2023

“Can’t joust without a sword,” said Sir Grummore.

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