cavalry

noun

cav·​al·​ry ˈka-vəl-rē How to pronounce cavalry (audio)
nonstandard
ˈkal-və-rē How to pronounce cavalry (audio)
plural cavalries
1
a
: an army component mounted on horseback
b
: an army component moving in motor vehicles or helicopters and assigned to combat missions that require great mobility
2
: horsemen
a thousand cavalry in flight

Examples of cavalry in a Sentence

Cavalry is used to perform reconnaissance. The cavalry were brought in to support the mission.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While Battlemechs remain the stars of the show, players who want to add tactics for infantry, cavalry and other modern warfare units can find a great entry point here. Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025 Director John Schlesinger insisted that all cavalry men before 1860 were right-handed, and so Stamp obliged. Rhett Bartlett, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2025 But the federal-court cavalry didn't arrive in time for last week's squeeze. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2025 The recent excavation was all thanks to an amateur metal detectorist who found two iron Roman cavalry swords in the same location in March 2023. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for cavalry

Word History

Etymology

earlier cavallerie, borrowed from Middle French cavalerie, borrowed from Italian cavalleria, earlier cavalaria "group of soldiers on horseback, branch of arms made up of such soldiers," from cavalliere, cavaliere "horseback rider, mounted soldier" + -eria, borrowed from Middle French -erie -ery — more at cavalier entry 2

First Known Use

1546, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cavalry was in 1546

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cavalry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cavalry. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

cavalry

noun
cav·​al·​ry ˈkav-əl-rē How to pronounce cavalry (audio)
plural cavalries
: troops mounted on horseback or moving in motor vehicles or helicopters
Etymology

from Italian cavallerie "cavalry, chivalry," from cavaliere "cavalier, knight," derived from Latin caballarius "horseman," from earlier caballus "horse" — related to cavalier, chivalry see Word History at chivalry

More from Merriam-Webster on cavalry

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