Meaning & use
lancer
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountablemilitary
A soldier, especially in the past, who fought on horseback carrying a long spear called a lance.
Grammar: Countable: use 'a lancer' for one, 'lancers' for several; often capitalized in historical regiment names.
Patterns
- a troop of lancers
- serve as a lancer
- the lancers charged
The museum has a painting of a lancer charging across the field.
In the nineteenth century, lancers were feared for their speed and reach.
He joined a regiment of lancers stationed near the border.
nouncountablemusic
A person who performs a traditional dance in which partners move in long lines, or the dance itself.
Grammar: Usually in the plural 'lancers' when referring to the dance or the music; 'a lancer' refers to one dancer.
Patterns
- dance the lancers
- play the lancers
At the village hall they danced the lancers until midnight.
The band struck up a set of lancers and everyone found a partner.
nouncountablemilitaryBritish
A cavalry unit or regiment historically armed with lances.
Grammar: Often capitalized as part of a proper name, e.g. 'the 9th Lancers'.
Patterns
- the Queen's Lancers
- join the lancers
The Lancers paraded through the town on their return.
He served with the Lancers for twelve years.
Word forms
| plural | lancers |
|---|
Common combinations
- a troop of lancers
- A troop of lancers rode out at dawn.
- the charge of the lancers
- The charge of the lancers broke the enemy line.
- dance the lancers
- The older guests taught the children how to dance the lancers.
- join the lancers
- At eighteen he decided to join the lancers.
- lancers on horseback
- The painting shows lancers on horseback in full uniform.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spearman
- A more general word for a fighter with a spear; 'lancer' is specifically mounted and historical.
- cavalryman
- Broader: any soldier on horseback, not necessarily armed with a lance.
- dragoon
- A mounted soldier of a different historical type, often armed with a firearm rather than a lance.
Word family
Commonly confused: lancer or lancer? lancer or dancer?
lancer vs lancer
Not to be confused with 'lancer' vs 'lancet': a lancet is a small surgical knife, while a lancer is a soldier.
lancer vs dancer
Sounds similar in fast speech; a dancer moves to music, while a lancer fights with a lance (or dances the Lancers).
Practice
In the historical novel, a group of ______ rode into battle carrying long spears.
Choose one answer.
'Lancers' is the correct noun for soldiers who carried lances; 'lances' is the weapon itself, 'lancets' are small surgical knives, and 'dancers' does not fit the military context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lancer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.