adj Uncommon

cavalier

ka-vuh-LIH

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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.”

adj

Careless or dismissive about something that actually matters; offhand to the point of recklessness.

"He took a cavalier attitude toward the safety regulations."

"She dismissed my concerns in a rather cavalier way."

noun

Historically, a mounted soldier or knight, and later a supporter of King Charles I during the English Civil War.

"The Cavaliers fought against Cromwell's Parliamentarians."

"Cavalier fashion favoured long curled hair and lace collars."

How to use cavalier

Learner’s notes

In 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.

Common mistake

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.

Common pairings

a cavalier attitude cavalier disregard for treat something in a cavalier manner

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: cavaliers
Third person singular: cavaliers
Past tense: cavaliered
Comparative: more cavalier
Superlative: most cavalier

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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."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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chevalier Royalist

Antonyms

attentive earnest respectful

Related words

serious interested dear honest careful republican attend alert

Rhymes for cavalier

bier tier pier crier skier trier Meier Grier Drier Xavier copier vizier

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.

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serious interested dear honest careful republican attend alert