recreant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Literary
Quick answer
What does “recreant” mean?
Cowardly or disloyal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Cowardly or disloyal; a person who is cowardly or betrays their duty.
Often used in literary or historical contexts to describe someone who fails to uphold commitments or shows lack of courage, with connotations of betrayal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; equally rare in both dialects.
Connotations
Similar connotations of betrayal and cowardice in both British and American English.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both dialects, primarily encountered in formal or literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “recreant” in a Sentence
Used as an adjective predicatively, e.g., 'He was recreant.'Used as a noun, e.g., 'He is a recreant.'Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “recreant” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The knight was deemed recreant for abandoning his post.
American English
- She considered him recreant for not standing up for his beliefs.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used in business contexts.
Academic
May appear in historical or literary academic texts.
Everyday
Rarely used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Not used in technical fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “recreant”
- Mispronouncing it as /riːˈkriːənt/
- Using it in informal contexts where simpler words like 'coward' are more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is rare and mostly found in literary or formal contexts.
No, 'recreant' is primarily an adjective and noun; there is no standard verb form.
It comes from Middle English, from Old French 'recreant', meaning 'surrendering' or 'yielding', related to Latin 're-' and 'credere'.
Remember that 'recreant' relates to cowardice and disloyalty, not to recreation or creativity.
Cowardly or disloyal.
Recreant is usually formal/literary in register.
Recreant: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrek.ri.ənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrek.ri.ənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idiomatic expressions.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'recreant' as 're-credant' – someone who loses credibility by being cowardly or disloyal.
Conceptual Metaphor
Betrayal as a fall from grace or duty.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'recreant'?