Dictionary

cavalry

noun cav·al·ry \ˈka-vəl-rē, ÷ˈkal-və-rē\

: the part of an army that in the past had soldiers who rode horses and that now has soldiers who ride in vehicles or helicopters

plural cav·al·ries

Full Definition of CAVALRY

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

: horsemen <a thousand cavalry in flight>

See cavalry defined for English-language learners

See cavalry defined for kids

Italian cavalleria cavalry, chivalry, from cavaliere

First Known Use: 1546

CAVALRY Defined for Kids

noun cav·al·ry \ˈka-vəl-rē\

plural cav·al·ries

: a unit of troops mounted on horseback or moving in motor vehicles

Next Word in the Dictionary: cavalry bonePrevious Word in the Dictionary: cavalloAll Words Near: cavalry

What made you want to look up cavalry? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Put-downs with flair

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears