gallivant
verb
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Back in the 14th century, gallant, a noun borrowed from the French word galant, referred to a fashionable young man. By the middle of the next century, it was being used more specifically to refer to such a man who was attentive to, and had a fondness for, the company of women. In the late 17th century, this “ladies’ man” sense gave rise to the verb gallant to describe the process a suitor used to win a lady’s heart, and “gallanting” became synonymous with “courting.” It’s this verb gallant that is the likely source of gallivant, which originally meant “to act as a gallant” or “to go about usually ostentatiously or indiscreetly with members of the opposite sex.” Today, however, gallivant is more likely to describe pleasurable wandering than romancing.
Examples of gallivant in a Sentence
Tj MacIas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2025
As one of the brand's newest global ambassadors, Graham, 37, gallivanted around New York for the campaign.
—Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Returning principal cast Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt were all spot gallivanting around famed city haunts, including the Met, which transformed its exterior to host a Gala-esque fete appearing in the sequel.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2025
After seeing her out on the town gallivanting with a few shady characters, Kat's friends intervene, unaware that the teacher is actually on a secret mission at the direction of law enforcement.
—Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gallivant
Cite this Entry
“Gallivant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gallivant. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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