joust

1 of 2

verb

ˈjau̇st 

sometimes

ˈjəst 

or

ˈjüst 

jousted; jousting; jousts

intransitive verb

1

a

: to fight on horseback as a knight or man-at-arms

b

: to engage in combat with lances on horseback

2

: to engage in combat or competition as if in a joust

jousting debaters

jousting bighorn rams

jouster noun

joust

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a combat on horseback between two knights with lances especially as part of a tournament

b

jousts plural : tournament

2

: a personal combat or competition : struggle

Examples of joust in a Sentence

Verb

The knights jousted against each other.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

At other points in the panel, Martin spent several moments discussing the inspiration for the novellas, pointing to his love of jousting. —Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025

Here, the afternoon heat meets armpits in the face, bodies jousting for balance, the smell of contest and blank slates (and, yes, a 35C/96F heatwave wafting). —Megan Feringa, New York Times, 3 July 2025

Noun

There’s a joust that is mentioned as happening offstage. —David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025

See a live joust, bite into a turkey leg bigger than your face and browse the village shoppes. —Caroline Ritzie, The Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French juster to unite, joust, from Vulgar Latin *juxtare, from Latin juxta near; akin to Latin jungere to join — more at yoke

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

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

Rhymes for joust

• doused
• faust
• oust

Kids Definition

joust

noun

ˈjau̇st

: a combat on horseback between two knights with lances especially as part of a tournament

joust verb

jouster noun