chevalier

noun

che·​va·​lier ˌshe-və-ˈlir 

especially for senses 1b and 2 also

shə-ˈval-ˌyā 

1

a

: cavalier sense 2

b

: a member of any of various orders of knighthood or of merit (such as the Legion of Honor)

2

a

: a member of the lowest rank of French nobility

b

: a cadet of the French nobility

3

: a chivalrous man

Examples of chevalier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Available in 9-karat and 18-karat yellow and white gold, the pendant and chevalier ring come with a cast kit to take the pet’s nose print, which is then reproduced on the jewels by the brand’s goldsmiths. —Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025

In 2021, Gaydos was named a chevalier/knight by France’s Ministry of Culture in recognition of his long career in entertainment. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Feb. 2025

But the trouble with chivalry is that the chevalier decides what is best for the lady without consulting her. —Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2025

He was made a chevalier of arts and letters by the French Culture Ministry in 1991. —Michael S. Rosenwald, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2025

For the chevalier’s apartment in Paris, where much of the movie is filmed, Murphy visited the Hotel le Peletier, a Baroque mansion in Paris, and the Château de Maisons-Laffitte in the suburbs of Paris. —Camille Okhio, ELLE Decor, 26 Apr. 2023

He was made a chevalier in the French Order of Arts and Letters in 1986, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1988 and was elevated in 2001 to a Companion of Honor, a British distinction limited to 65 living people. —Washington Post, 19 Apr. 2022

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "knight, young nobleman who has devoted himself to a lady, member of an order conferring knighthood or another honor," going back to Old French chevaler, chevalier "mounted soldier, knight," going back to Late Latin caballārius "horseback rider, groom" (early Medieval Latin also "serf performing duties on horseback, mounted soldier") — more at cavalier entry 2

Note: Old French and Anglo-French chevaler was borrowed into Middle English as chevaler, chivaler, but this word appears to have become obsolescent by the seventeenth century, and the current word represents a reborrowing from Modern French.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for chevalier

• auctioneer
• bandelier
• belvedere
• bombardier
• brigadier
• buccaneer
• cavalier
• chandelier
• chanticleer
• commandeer
• disappear
• engineer