white knight

American  

noun

1. a hero who comes to the rescue.

2. a beleaguered champion who fights heroically for a cause, as in politics.

3. Informal. a company that comes to the rescue of another, as to prevent a takeover.

---

white knight British  

noun

1. a champion or rescuer, esp a person or organization that rescues a company from financial difficulties, an unwelcome takeover bid, etc

---

Usage

What else does white knight mean? In internet slang, a white knight is a man who comes to the unsolicited defense of a woman online, in the hopes of romantic or sexual favor. A white knight can also more generally refer to someone who rushes to the defense of another online, usually a person whose actions aren’t seen as worthy of defense. How is white knight  pronounced?[ wahyt nahyt ]What are some other forms of white knight?white-knightingWhat are some other words related to white knight?

• nice guy
• mansplain

Etymology

Origin of white knight

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Given its size advantage, Chubb probably can buy AIG if it wants, though if deal talks did develop, it is possible that AIG could look to a white knight in Berkshire Hathaway.

From Barron's • Dec. 13, 2025

Ironically, Sony was Zee’s white knight then and its merger deal helped calm down Invesco, which has since pared most of its stake in the Indian company.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 29, 2024

Bankman-Fried emerges as the cryptocurrency sector's so-called "white knight" amid a collapse in the prices of Bitcoin and other digital assets.

From Reuters • Oct. 3, 2023

“I was hoping somebody could be a white knight and save it,” he told The Times.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 7, 2023

The prince had placed his daughter between himself and the white knight, a place of high honor.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Related Words

• savior