knight

1 of 2

noun

ˈnīt 

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

knight

2 of 2

verb

knighted; knighting; knights

transitive verb

: to make a knight of

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

Noun

Ser Criston Cole, once Rhaenyra’s champion, once Alicent’s lover, once Captain of the King’s Guard and Hand of the King, son of the steward to Lord Dondarrion, a lowly knight who has risen high, is at last dead. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Recalling the biblical knights that danced and fought in Cucinelli’s childhood dreams, the director projects crayon drawings on the rafters above the bed his fictional counterpart (Francesco Cannevale) shares with his cousins. — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 25 July 2026

Verb

For his achievements, he was knighted in New Zealand in 2022 and appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1991. — Brittany Levine Beckman, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

He’s been knighted by England fans, hung out with a goat in honor of Lionel Messi, found himself in the orange Dutch army and even helped Japanese fans clean up the stadium post-match. — The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 8 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English cniht man-at-arms, boy, servant; akin to Old High German kneht youth, military follower

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing knight

• knight-errant
• knight-errantry
• knight in shining armor
• white knight

Rhymes for knight

• bight
• bite
• blight
• byte
• cite
• dight
• fight
• fite
• flight
• fright
• height
• hight

Kids Definition

knight

1 of 2 noun

ˈnīt 

1

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

-lē

adjective or adverb

knight

2 of 2 verb

: to make a knight of

Etymology

Noun

Old English cniht "boy, attendant, warrior"