knightly

adjective

knight·​ly ˈnīt-lē 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a knight

tales of knightly adventures

2

: made up of knights

knightliness noun

knightly adverb

Examples of knightly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

He’s saved by a drunken Ser Arlan, who comes stumbling into the alley and instinctively follows his knightly code to defend the innocent. — Noel Murray, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026

Far from a knightly war, the German advance in 1941-1942 against France was a dirty one, with thieving of private property and menace against civilians. — Christopher C. Gorham september 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025

The entire Christian civilization on which our country is built is a knightly message to defend widows and orphans. — Fox News, 9 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for knightly

• brightly
• lightly
• nightly
• rightly
• sightly
• slightly
• sprightly
• tightly
• whitely
• forthrightly
• fortnightly
• politely