cavalier

1 of 2

adjective

cav·​a·​lier ˌka-və-ˈlir 

1

: marked by or given to offhand and often disdainful (see disdain entry 1) dismissal of important matters

a cavalier attitude toward money

has a cavalier disregard for the rights of others

2

: debonair

3

a

capitalized : of or relating to the party of Charles I of England in his struggles with the Puritans and Parliament

b

: aristocratic

portrayed the plantation owner as a cavalier fop

c

capitalized : of or relating to the English Cavalier poets of the mid-17th century

cavalierism

ˌka-və-ˈlir-ˌi-zəm 

noun

cavalierly adverb

cavalier

2 of 2

noun

1

: a gentleman trained in arms and horsemanship

2

: a mounted soldier : knight

3

capitalized : an adherent of Charles I of England

4

: a lady's escort or dancing partner : gallant

Did you know?

The Evolution of Cavalier

The adjective cavalier comes from a noun referring to a gentleman or knight who is trained in arms and horsemanship. The noun traces back to Latin caballārius, meaning "horseback rider" or "groom." It is also used for "a swaggering fellow," and English Puritans used it disdainfully to their adversaries, the swashbuckling royalist followers of Charles I, who sported longish hair and swords. Their use undoubtedly contributed to the adjective's reference to a rather unbecoming quality.

Synonyms

Adjective

• arrogant
• assumptive
• bumptious
• chesty
• haughty
• high-and-mighty
• high-handed
• high-hat
• highfalutin
• hifalutin
• huffish
• huffy
• imperious
• important
• lofty
• lordly
• masterful
• overweening
• peremptory
• pompous
• presuming
• presumptuous
• pretentious
• self-asserting
• self-assertive
• sniffy
• stiff-necked
• supercilious
• superior
• toplofty
• toploftical
• uppish
• uppity

Noun

• gentleman

Example Sentences

Adjective

They are too cavalier in their treatment of others.

She has a cavalier attitude about spending money.

He has a cavalier disregard for the rights of others.

Noun

a novel about the dashing cavaliers and gracious ladies of the South before the Civil War

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Republicans’ ‘cavalier attitude’ in electing a speaker is ‘disrespectful,’ former speaker Pelosi says — 11:34 a.m. —Amanda Kaufman, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Jan. 2023

Nonetheless, over several days, the government’s witnesses managed to paint a picture of AseraCare’s cavalier attitude toward patient eligibility. —Ava Kofman, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2022

The second is the researchers cavalier attitude to light pollution. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2022

Nico has grown concerned that Leighann may be cheating on him, and her cavalier attitude is doing nothing to ease his worries. —Olivia Mccormack, Washington Post, 1 Aug. 2022

Today’s glittering skylines and vast avenues represent a philosophy based on the free flow of capital, an endless supply of fossil fuels, and a cavalier attitude toward climate change. —Curbed, 12 May 2022

A lot of people, especially teens, have developed a cavalier attitude toward the coronavirus. —Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2022

If anything — as evinced in the turkey remark — his administration has taken a cavalier attitude toward making good on the president's once-urgent promises around criminal justice. —Michael Arceneaux, The Week, 27 Apr. 2022

Noun

Harrowhark Nonagesimus, having become a powerful immortal necromancer, or Lyctor, at the cost of her cavalier’s life, is fighting battles on several fronts. —New York Times, 25 Nov. 2020

The refined sensibilities of his hippos stand in touching contrast to their obvious tonnage, and his pen line — though never forgetting their impossible weight and size — endows them with the grace and airiness of a ballerina and her cavalier. —Amy Bloom, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2018

Ian Hussey as her cavalier was dashing, his soloing and partnering both solid. —Ellen Dunkel, Philly.com, 10 Dec. 2017

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Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from attributive use of cavalier entry 2

Noun

borrowed from French, "horseback rider, member of the gentry bearing arms, gallant," going back to Middle French, borrowed from later medieval Italian cavallere, cavaleru, cavalliere "horseback rider, mounted soldier, courtly gentleman accompanying a lady," borrowed from Old Occitan cavalier "horseman, mounted soldier, knight," going back to Late Latin caballārius "horseback rider, groom" (early Medieval Latin also "serf performing duties on horseback, mounted soldier"), from Latin caballus "work horse, gelding" + -ārius -ary entry 1 — more at cavalcade

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1641, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

cavalier

1 of 2 noun

cav·​a·​lier ˌkav-ə-ˈli(ə)r 

1

: a mounted soldier : knight

2

: a brave and courteous gentleman

cavalier

2 of 2 adjective

1

: lighthearted and charming in manner

2

: having an unconcerned or disdainful attitude about important matters

cavalierly adverb

cavalierness noun

Etymology

Noun

from early French cavalier "cavalier," from early Italian cavaliere (same meaning), derived from Latin caballarius "horseman," from earlier caballus "horse" — related to cavalry, chivalry see Word History at chivalry