Meaning & use
gallant
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Showing brave, noble behavior, especially when facing danger, pain, or difficulty.
Grammar: Can appear before a noun or after a linking verb: a gallant effort, the effort was gallant.
Patterns
- gallant effort
- gallant soldier
- remain gallant
The firefighters made a gallant effort to save the house.
She gave a gallant smile although the news was bad.
He remained gallant under pressure and thanked the staff.
adjectivenot comparableold-fashioned
Politely attentive to other people in a formal, courteous, sometimes old-fashioned way.
Grammar: Often before a noun: gallant manners. It can sound dated if used for modern casual politeness.
Patterns
- gallant manners
- gallant gesture
- gallant gentleman
He offered his coat with a gallant bow.
Her gallant manners put nervous guests at ease.
The letter ended with a gallant compliment.
Common combinations
- gallant effort
- The rescue was a gallant effort by neighbors and nurses.
- gallant soldier
- The memorial honors a gallant soldier who protected civilians.
- gallant gesture
- Paying for the taxi was a gallant gesture, not an obligation.
- gallant manners
- The doorman's gallant manners belonged to another century.
Synonyms and how they differ
- courageous
- Courageous centers on facing fear; gallant adds nobility or courtesy.
- chivalrous
- Chivalrous is close for polite protectiveness but can seem tied to knights or gender roles.
- courteous
- Courteous is mild everyday politeness and lacks gallant's bravery or flourish.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: gallant or gaunt?
gallant vs gaunt
Gaunt means thin and worn-looking; gallant means brave or courteous and has a different vowel pattern.
Practice
Which sentence uses gallant in the brave sense rather than the polite sense?
Choose one answer.
A gallant attempt shows brave action under danger. The other options shift toward tea, clothing, or a feeling that gallant does not describe.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gallant”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.