# knight

/ˈnaɪt/ (US) · /nˈaɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/knight
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. historical warrior

noun · CEFR B1

a brave soldier in the Middle Ages who wore metal armour and rode a horse.

For teachers: a medieval tenant giving military service as a mounted man-at-arms; typically a member of the lower nobility.

- The knight rode his horse into the castle to protect the king.
- Historical accounts describe the knight as being heavily armoured and bound by a strict code of chivalry during the fourteenth century.

### 2. modern honorary title

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a person who has been given a special title of honour by a king or queen for their great work.

For teachers: a person upon whom a non-hereditary knighthood has been conferred by a monarch or other head of state.

- The famous scientist was made a knight for his services to medicine.
- After decades of philanthropic work, the philanthropist was formally invested as a knight at the palace.

### 3. chess piece

noun · CEFR B1

a chess piece that looks like a horse's head and moves in an 'L' shape.

For teachers: a chess piece, usually shaped like a horse, that moves two squares vertically and one horizontally (or vice versa).

- He moved his knight to capture the opponent's queen.
- The grandmaster sacrificed his knight to create a tactical opening in the opponent's defensive line.

### 4. chivalrous man

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

a man who is very brave, polite, and helpful toward others.

For teachers: a man who behaves in an exceptionally honourable, brave, or chivalrous manner.

- He was a true knight who always helped people in trouble.
- In the romantic novels of that era, the protagonist is often depicted as a knight in shining armour who rescues those in distress.

### 5. to give a title

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to give someone the official title of 'Sir' in a special ceremony.

For teachers: to confer the rank of knighthood upon a person, typically by touching their shoulders with a sword.

- The Queen will knight the successful athlete at the ceremony tomorrow.
- It is tradition for the monarch to knight individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts and sciences.

## Examples

- The knight rode his horse into the castle.
- The queen decided to knight the famous scientist for his life-saving discoveries in medicine.
- Historical accounts often romanticise the medieval knight as a figure of chivalry, though their primary function was as a heavily armed elite cavalryman within the feudal system.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.