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

They were also both honored with knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II — McKellen in 1991 and Stewart in 2010. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2026

Riley points to the rise of rock stars being awarded with knighthoods by the British royal family as a correlation of changing tastes of reputability. — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026

His grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, awarded him this knighthood in 2015 for his personal service to the monarch. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Richard the Lionheart spent much of his reign leading the Third Crusade and became a legendary symbol of medieval knighthood. — Sarah Scott, Parents, 12 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for knighthood

• allgood
• basswood
• beechwood
• bellwood
• birchwood
• boxwood
• boyhood
• brushwood
• childhood
• cordwood
• dogwood
• driftwood

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