Cavalier
/ˌkævəˈlɪər/
adjectivenounC1
Definition
As an adjective, cavalier describes someone who does not care enough about rules, feelings, or serious matters. It shows a careless or disrespectful attitude. As a noun, a cavalier can be a person who behaves like this or, in history, a horse soldier or knight.
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⚡ See It in Action
Showing careless or disrespectful attitude (adjective)
- •He had a cavalier attitude toward safety rules, which worried his coworkers.
- •The manager was criticized for his cavalier approach to employee concerns.
- •She gave a cavalier answer, ignoring the seriousness of the question.
A person who acts in a careless or proud way; historically, a horseman or knight (noun)
- •The cavaliers fought bravely in the battle long ago.
- •He acted like a cavalier, ignoring others’ feelings and doing whatever he wanted.
- •In history, cavaliers were known for their skill on horseback.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'cavalier' like 'careless,' but with a confident or proud attitude that can seem rude or too relaxed
- ✓Picture a person riding a horse with a proud smile, ignoring warnings or rules around them
- ✓It's the feeling when someone acts like rules are not important and they do what they want without thinking about others
- ✓Sounds like 'cavalier' → imagine a 'cave lion' (sounds similar) that roars loudly, acting wild and free without care
- ✓Remember stories of knights or horsemen who acted boldly, sometimes ignoring advice or dangers
- ✓NOT like 'careful' (who pays close attention)—cavalier means the opposite, careless and too confident
- ✓NOT like 'rude' (which is direct disrespect)—cavalier can be more about ignoring or not caring rather than being openly mean
- ✓NOT like 'brave' (which is positive courage)—cavalier is more about ignoring rules or feelings, sometimes foolishly
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Reckless: not caring about danger or rules (Use when the attitude causes risk or danger)
- •Dismissive: showing that you do not think something is important (Use when ignoring ideas or feelings)
- •Arrogant: having too much pride or self-importance (Use when the attitude is proud and disrespectful)
- •Nonchalant: casually calm and relaxed, without worry (Use when the attitude is relaxed but not necessarily rude)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "cavalier" comes from Old French "chevalier" meaning "horseman" or "knight"
- •Etymology: Derived from Latin "caballarius," meaning "horseman," related to "caballus" (horse)
- •Historical development: Originally meant a mounted soldier or knight; later used to describe a proud or careless attitude like that of some knights
- •Modern usage: Used as an adjective to describe careless or dismissive behavior, and as a noun for a person with such attitude or a historical horseman
💭 Reflect & Connect
•When can being cavalier be a problem in everyday life or work?
•How does a cavalier attitude affect relationships with others?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.His cavalier attitude toward deadlines caused the project to ___ important steps.
2.She spoke in a cavalier way, showing ___ for the concerns of her friends.
3.Unlike careful planning, a cavalier approach often ___ risks without thinking.
4.When someone acts cavalier, they might ___ advice or warnings from others.
5.The word cavalier can describe someone who is too confident and ___ about rules.
6.Historically, cavaliers were horsemen known for their ___ and pride.
7.A manager with a cavalier style might ___ employee feedback and make quick decisions.