Valkyrie

noun

Val·​ky·​rie ˈval-k(ə-)rē How to pronounce Valkyrie (audio)
also
val-ˈkir-ē How to pronounce Valkyrie (audio) val-ˈkī-rē How to pronounce Valkyrie (audio)
: any of the maidens of Odin who choose the heroes to be slain in battle and conduct them to Valhalla

Examples of Valkyrie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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To protect the Asgardians and truly find peace, Thor enlists the help of New Asgard’s leader Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Kronan warrior Korg (Taika Waititi) and his ex Jane Foster, who now wields Mjölnir as the Mighty Thor. — Jacqueline Weiss, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025 Contemporary Art Comes To Malta Through March 27, 2025, visitors to MICAS are greeted upon entry by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos’ (b. 1971) maximalist Valkyrie Mumbet. — Chadd Scott, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 The company has developed 15 robotic systems, including NASA’s humanoid robot Valkyrie. — Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2025 Aston said that the British drivers Harry Tincknell and Tom Gamble will pilot the Valkyrie hypercar for Le Mans and a sister Valkyrie hypercar will be piloted by Marco Sørensen of Denmark and Alex Riberas of Spain. — Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Valkyrie

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German & Old Norse; German Walküre, borrowed from Old Norse valkyrja, going back to Germanic *wala-kuzjōn- (whence Old English wælcyrige "war goddess, sorceress"), from *wala- (whence Old Norse valr "the slain," Old English wæl) + -kuzjōn-, nominal derivative from the base of *keusan- "to choose" (whence Old English cēosan) — more at valhalla, choose

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Valkyrie was in 1770

Rhymes for Valkyrie

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Valkyrie
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Cite this Entry

“Valkyrie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Valkyrie. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

Valkyrie

noun
Val·​kyr·​ie
val-ˈkir-ē
: any of the maidens in Norse mythology who take slain heroes to Valhalla

More from Merriam-Webster on Valkyrie

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Valkyrie

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