cavalier
Cavalier (adj) means Careless or dismissive about something that actually matters; offhand to the point of recklessness. Example: “He took a cavalier attitude toward the safety regulations.”
How to use cavalier
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs an adjective, it means careless or too casual about something serious; as a noun, it originally meant a horseman or a 17th-century royalist supporter of Charles I.
In modern use it's almost always the adjective (careless, dismissive) — the horseman/royalist sense is mostly historical, and the Chevrolet Cavalier is unrelated slang.
Word forms
more cavalier comparative, cavaliered past tense, cavaliers plural, Cavaliers plural, cavaliers singular, most cavalier superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He took a _____ attitude toward the safety regulations.
Etymology
From Middle French cavalier ("horseman"), tracing back through Italian and Occitan to Latin caballus ("horse"). A doublet of "chevalier" and "caballero."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for cavalier
See all rhymes for cavalier →Frequently asked questions
What does “cavalier” mean?
The word “cavalier” means careless or dismissive about something that actually matters; offhand to the point of recklessness. In plain terms, as an adjective, it means careless or too casual about something serious; as a noun, it originally meant a horseman or a 17th-century royalist supporter of Charles I.
How do you pronounce “cavalier”?
“Cavalier” is pronounced ka-vuh-LIH (/ˈkæ.vəˌlir/ in IPA).
How do you use “cavalier” in a sentence?
Here is “cavalier” used in a sentence: “He took a cavalier attitude toward the safety regulations.”
What part of speech is “cavalier”?
Depending on how it is used, “cavalier” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “cavalier” come from?
The word “cavalier” comes from Latin. From Middle French cavalier ("horseman"), tracing back through Italian and Occitan to Latin caballus ("horse"). A doublet of "chevalier" and "caballero.".
Is “cavalier” a common word?
“Cavalier” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cavalier” have?
“Cavalier” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: careless or dismissive about something that actually matters; offhand to the point of recklessness.