1
a(1)
: a mounted man-at-arms serving a feudal superior
especially
: a man ceremonially inducted into special military rank usually after completing service as page and squire
(2)
: a man honored by a sovereign for merit and in Great Britain ranking below a baronet
(3)
: a person of antiquity equal to a knight in rank
b
: a man devoted to the service of a lady as her attendant or champion
c
: a member of an order or society
2
: either of two pieces of each color in a set of chessmen having the power to make an L-shaped move of two squares in one row and one square in a perpendicular row over squares that may be occupied
Examples of knight in a Sentence
Noun
He was made a knight.
Verb
He is to be knighted by the Queen for his career as an actor.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 June 2024
During the early medieval period, amid an era of Christian expansion, the fortress was occupied by the warrior monks, or knights, of the Order of Calatrava, Ramallo said.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 5 June 2024
Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 11 June 2024
Queen Victoria knighted him in 1866 for his work on the transatlantic cable, then elevated him to the rank of baron in 1892 for his contributions to thermodynamics, and so he is often remembered as Lord Kelvin.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for knight 
Noun
The collection includes a chess knight—which may have been used by real knights—alongside a six-sided die and four pieces shaped like flowers.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 June 2024
During the early medieval period, amid an era of Christian expansion, the fortress was occupied by the warrior monks, or knights, of the Order of Calatrava, Ramallo said.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 5 June 2024
Verb
Stewart was knighted in 2016 for services to music and charity.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 11 June 2024
Queen Victoria knighted him in 1866 for his work on the transatlantic cable, then elevated him to the rank of baron in 1892 for his contributions to thermodynamics, and so he is often remembered as Lord Kelvin.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for knight
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'knight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near knight
Cite this Entry
“Knight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knight. Accessed 18 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
knight
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a warrior of olden times who fought on horseback, served a king, held a special military rank, and swore to behave in a noble way
b
: a man honored by a sovereign for merit and in Great Britain ranking below a baronet
2
: a chess piece that makes an L-shaped move
knightly
adjective or adverb
-lē
knight
2 of 2 verb
: to make a knight of
Etymology
Noun
Old English cniht "boy, attendant, warrior"
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