cavalier

[ kav-uh-leer, kav-uh-leer ]

noun

1. a horseman, especially a mounted soldier; knight.
2. one having the spirit or bearing of a knight; a courtly gentleman; gallant.
3. a man escorting a woman or acting as her partner in dancing.
4. (initial capital letter) an adherent of Charles I of England in his contest with Parliament.

adjective

1. haughty, disdainful, or supercilious:

   an arrogant and cavalier attitude toward others.

   Synonyms: uncaring, condescending, thoughtless, offhand, indifferent

2. offhand or unceremonious:

   The very dignified officials were confused by his cavalier manner.

3. (initial capital letter) of or relating to the Cavaliers.
4. (initial capital letter) of, relating to, or characteristic of the Cavalier poets or their work.

verb (used without object)

1. to play the cavalier.
2. to be haughty or domineering.

Cavalier

¹

/ ˌkævəˈlɪə /

noun

1. a supporter of Charles I during the English Civil War Compare Roundhead

cavalier

²

/ ˌkævəˈlɪə /

adjective

1. showing haughty disregard; offhand

noun

1. a gallant or courtly gentleman, esp one acting as a lady's escort
2. archaic.
   a horseman, esp one who is armed

Derived Forms

• ˌcavaˈlierly, adverb

Other Words From

• cava·lierism cava·lierness noun
• cava·lierly adverb
• uncav·a·lier adjective
• uncav·a·lierly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavalier¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French: “horseman, knight,” from Old Italian cavaliere, from Old Provençal, from Late Latin caballārius “man on horseback,” equivalent to Latin caball(us) “horse” ( capercaillie ) + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavalier¹

C16: from Italian cavaliere, from Old Provençal cavalier, from Late Latin caballārius rider, from caballus horse, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

The metrics are good, and I don’t say that with a cavalier attitude.

From Washington Post

“That’s pretty startling stuff in there in terms of the laxity or almost cavalier attitude about” attorney conduct, Carpenter said.

From ProPublica

They aren’t cavalier about the health risks but say something critical is at stake.

From Washington Post

In an interview with Sports Illustrated years earlier, Salazar appeared cavalier about his own drug use.

From Fortune

Take into account fuel economy, parking, and the fact that you’ll probably still need a commuter car if you’re based in a big city, and that cavalier road-trip machine might start to feel like a logistics nightmare.

From Outside Online

The mindsets of both Cavalier and Puritan took root in the New World, and the experiment launched in 1776 continues.

From The Daily Beast

"There is a cost to such a cavalier attitude," said Aparício, the former Bolivian ambassador to Washington.

From The Daily Beast

“Wrong station, mate, you want the next,” you tell a strapping boy in a cavalier cloak.

From The Daily Beast

“Some reporters may take a cavalier attitude about being a martyr for a cause,” the friend added.

From The Daily Beast

I'm afraid those who have been to war and daily diced with death are rather cavalier with their health.

From The Daily Beast

The other was the spirited portrait of Baron von Friedericks, a happy combination of cavalier and soldier in its manly strength.

From Project Gutenberg

Like many another cavalier, he had a flame in every country, or rather, in every town which he visited.

From Project Gutenberg

She gave him a cavalier little nod, touched her horse with the whip, and a moment later was lost in a cloud of dust.

From Project Gutenberg

The old landed interest, the old Cavalier interest, had now no share in the favours of the Crown.

From Project Gutenberg

Cavalier traveled for the house, whose firm name appeared as "Fendant and Cavalier."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• condescending
• curt
• disdainful
• haughty
• offhand
• supercilious