knighthood

noun

knight·​hood ˈnīt-ˌhu̇d 

1

: the rank, dignity, or profession of a knight

2

: the qualities befitting a knight : chivalry

3

: knights as a class or body

Examples of knighthood in a Sentence

The Queen awarded a knighthood to the famous actor.

For their bravery, they were rewarded with knighthood.

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite the loss, there were instantly calls for the often beleaguered England manager Gareth Southgate to be rewarded with a knighthood for leading the national team to its second successive European Cup final. —Caroline Frost, Deadline, 14 July 2024

Starmer comes from a blue-collar background but would also be the first prime minister since the 1950s to already have a knighthood. —Alexander Smith, NBC News, 3 July 2024

His knighthood came in 2014, in recognition of his work for the Crown Prosecution Service. —Karla Adam, Washington Post, 4 July 2024

Press reports have noted that Charles and Starmer — Sir Keir, following his knighthood in 2020 — share a similar low-key temperament, as well as some common interests such as fighting climate change. —Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

knighthood

noun

knight·​hood ˈnīt-ˌhu̇d 

1

: the rank, dignity, or profession of a knight

2

: the qualities that a knight should have

3

: knights as a class or body