cavalry

noun

cav·​al·​ry ˈka-vəl-rē How to pronounce cavalry (audio)
nonstandard
ˈkal-və-rē How to pronounce cavalry (audio)
plural cavalries
1
a
: an army component mounted on horseback
b
: an army component moving in motor vehicles or helicopters and assigned to combat missions that require great mobility
2
: horsemen
a thousand cavalry in flight

Examples of cavalry in a Sentence

Cavalry is used to perform reconnaissance. The cavalry were brought in to support the mission.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cannons, cavalry and infantry alike struggled to navigate the muddy landscape. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024 At the city building near the Veteran's Monuments, 176 John's Hill Road. Fort Thomas: At Tower Park next to the cavalry stables. —Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 23 Dec. 2024 Before sunrise the next morning, the general ordered a detachment of cavalry to skirt the village and take up a position to the north. —Tim Madigan, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024 Their warm and wet climates couldn’t produce the brawny horses needed for their cavalries. —David Chaffetz, Fortune Asia, 15 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cavalry 

Word History

Etymology

earlier cavallerie, borrowed from Middle French cavalerie, borrowed from Italian cavalleria, earlier cavalaria "group of soldiers on horseback, branch of arms made up of such soldiers," from cavalliere, cavaliere "horseback rider, mounted soldier" + -eria, borrowed from Middle French -erie -ery — more at cavalier entry 2

First Known Use

1546, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cavalry was in 1546

Phrases Containing cavalry

Dictionary Entries Near cavalry

cavallo

cavalry

cavalry bone

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Cavalry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cavalry. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

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Kids Definition

cavalry

noun
cav·​al·​ry ˈkav-əl-rē How to pronounce cavalry (audio)
plural cavalries
: troops mounted on horseback or moving in motor vehicles or helicopters
Etymology

from Italian cavallerie "cavalry, chivalry," from cavaliere "cavalier, knight," derived from Latin caballarius "horseman," from earlier caballus "horse" — related to cavalier, chivalry see Word History at chivalry

More from Merriam-Webster on cavalry

Nglish: Translation of cavalry for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cavalry

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