knight-errant

noun

knight-er·​rant ˈnīt-ˈer-ənt 

plural knights-errant

: a knight traveling in search of adventures in which to exhibit military skill, prowess, and generosity

Examples of knight-errant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The protagonist is Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk), a knight-errant played by Peter Claffey, accompanied by his young squire Egg, portrayed by Dexter Sol Ansell. — Francesca Pellegrini, Vanity Fair, 22 June 2026

Success finally came with Don Quixote, a novel about a knight-errant whose adventures are inspired by the author’s earlier days. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026

Three or four decades ago, the newspaperman was appealingly raffish—at once a bum who drank too much and a knight-errant who charged unafraid at social injustice, succored the weak, and crossed lances with the powerful and arrogant. — David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

Lots of music by Bach, of course, but also jazzy improvisations and a concert to celebrate a daft knight-errant. — Patrick Neas, Kansas City Star, 31 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for knight-errant

• aberrant
• apparent
• declarant
• grandparent
• stepparent
• transparent
• errant
• parent
• semitransparent

Kids Definition

knight-errant

noun

knight-er·​rant

ˈnīt-ˈer-ənt

plural knights-errant

: a knight traveling in search of adventures

knight-errantry

ˈnīt-ˈer-ən-trē

noun