paladin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Literary, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “paladin” mean?
A knight or champion, especially one of the legendary twelve peers of Charlemagne's court, famed for heroism and chivalry.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A knight or champion, especially one of the legendary twelve peers of Charlemagne's court, famed for heroism and chivalry.
A person who fights vigorously for a particular cause or principle; a leading champion or advocate of a noble endeavour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British English in historical/academic contexts, but fantasy/gaming usage is equally strong in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but understood by educated speakers. Slightly higher frequency in AmE due to prominent usage in fantasy role-playing games (e.g., Dungeons & Dragons).
Grammar
How to Use “paladin” in a Sentence
paladin of [cause/ideal]paladin for [cause/group]paladin in [setting/context]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “paladin” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- His paladin-like dedication to the cause was inspiring.
American English
- She took a paladin oath to defend the constitution.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical; extremely rare. E.g., 'He was seen as a paladin of corporate ethics.'
Academic
Used in historical/literary studies of medieval romance and chivalric literature.
Everyday
Very rare. Primarily encountered in discussions of fantasy literature, films, or games.
Technical
Common as a character class in role-playing games (RPGs), denoting a holy warrior with healing/protective abilities.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “paladin”
- Misspelling as 'palladin' or 'paladine'. Using it to mean any soldier or warrior without the connotation of chivalry, idealism, or a specific cause.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its origin is in the legends of Charlemagne's knights, its primary modern use is in fantasy genres (books, games) and as a metaphor for a principled champion.
Yes. Although historically the knights were male, in modern figurative and fantasy usage, 'paladin' is gender-neutral.
All of Charlemagne's paladins were knights, but not all knights are paladins. 'Paladin' implies an elite, legendary status, association with a specific court (Charlemagne's), and, in modern usage, often a connection to holy magic or an unwavering moral code.
The stress is on the first syllable: PAL-uh-din. The 'a' in 'pal' sounds like the 'a' in 'cat' (/æ/).
A knight or champion, especially one of the legendary twelve peers of Charlemagne's court, famed for heroism and chivalry.
Paladin is usually formal, literary, figurative in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to be/play] the paladin of the people”
- “a modern-day paladin”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PALADIN: Picture a PAL in shining ARMOUR, a loyal friend (pal) who is a champion (adin).
Conceptual Metaphor
MORALITY/PRINCIPLE IS A WEAPON; UPHOLDING A CAUSE IS A HOLY QUEST.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary contemporary context where the word 'paladin' is most frequently encountered?