gallivant
verb
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Back in the 14th century, gallant, a noun borrowed from the French word galant, referred to a fashionable young man. By the middle of the next century, it was being used more specifically to refer to such a man who was attentive to, and had a fondness for, the company of women. In the late 17th century, this “ladies’ man” sense gave rise to the verb gallant to describe the process a suitor used to win a lady’s heart, and “gallanting” became synonymous with “courting.” It’s this verb gallant that is the likely source of gallivant, which originally meant “to act as a gallant” or “to go about usually ostentatiously or indiscreetly with members of the opposite sex.” Today, however, gallivant is more likely to describe pleasurable wandering than romancing.
Synonyms
Examples of gallivant in a Sentence
Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2024
The slouchy, relaxed silhouette offers ultimate comfort — a must when gallivanting around town.
—Kelsey Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2024
Jono and Ellie have since been papped gallivanting around Sydney, smooching up a storm over beaches and brunches.
—Alexandra Koster, refinery29.com, 24 Mar. 2024
Ignoring the state’s crises and residents’ hardship, the governor selected to gallivant around the country to promote himself on national television and introduce himself to voters in battleground states.
—Tom Lackey, Orange County Register, 9 July 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Gallivant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gallivant. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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