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.
That all means the usual Washington cavalry may not arrive at the first sign of economic trouble. Courtenay Brown, Axios, 10 Mar. 2025 Bringing the parade to an end were some golden-age American muscle cars, some of which dutifully performed burnouts for the crowd, and a cavalry of horseback riders, including a couple of rodeo queens. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Mar. 2025 Rather than wait for the cavalry to arrive in the unlikely form of a bunch of hitherto untapped categories, the sales guys instead chopped the commercial running times in half, thereby making their inventory a great deal more affordable. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 28 Feb. 2025 The club have had to navigate a taxing January fixture list, with an ailing squad still awaiting the cavalry. James McNicholas, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cavalry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cavalry. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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

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