Soldier vs. Knight — What's the Difference?

A rank and file member of the military.

A medieval nobleman trained to fight on horseback.

A member of the armed forces, possibly specializing in ground, naval, or air service.

In historical contexts, a feudal servant to a lord.

A person who serves in an army.

Someone who has been knighted, earning a title of Sir in certain countries.

Often used figuratively to describe a person who fights for a cause.

A member of the warrior class in the Middle Ages.

Someone trained for and engaged in military combat.

Used in chess to refer to a piece that moves in an L-shape.

A soldier is one who fights as part of a military. A soldier can be a conscripted or volunteer enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, or an officer.

A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity.Knighthood finds origins in the Greek hippeis and hoplite (ἱππεῖς) and Roman eques and centurion of classical antiquity.In the Early Middle Ages in Europe, knighthood was conferred upon mounted warriors. During the High Middle Ages, knighthood was considered a class of lower nobility.

One who serves in an army.

A medieval tenant giving military service as a mounted man-at-arms to a feudal landholder.

An enlisted person or a noncommissioned officer.

A medieval gentleman-soldier, usually high-born, raised by a sovereign to privileged military status after training as a page and squire.

An active, loyal, or militant follower of an organization.

A man holding a nonhereditary title conferred by a sovereign in recognition of personal merit or service to the country.

A nonreproductive ant or termite that has a large head and powerful jaws.

A man belonging to an order or brotherhood.

One of a group of honeybees that swarm in defense of a hive.

A defender, champion, or zealous upholder of a cause or principle.

To be or serve as a soldier.

The devoted champion of a lady.

To make a show of working in order to escape punishment.

Abbr. Kt or N(Games) A chess piece, usually in the shape of a horse's head, that can be moved two squares along a rank and one along a file or two squares along a file and one along a rank. The knight is the only piece that can jump other pieces to land on an open square.

A member of a ground-based army, of any rank, but especially an enlisted member.

To raise (a person) to knighthood.

An enlisted member of a military service, as distinguished from a commissioned officer.

(historical) A young servant or follower; a trained military attendant in service of a lord.

A guardsman.

(historical) A minor nobleman with an honourable military rank who had served as a page and squire.

A member of the Salvation Army.

(by extension) An armored and mounted warrior of the Middle Ages.

A low-ranking gangster or member of a gang, especially the mafia, who engages in physical conflict.

A person obliged to provide knight service in exchange for maintenance of an estate held in knight's fee.

A piece of buttered bread (or toast), cut into a long thin strip for dipping into a soft-boiled egg.

(modern) A person on whom a knighthood has been conferred by a monarch.

A term of approbation for a young boy.

(literary) A brave, chivalrous and honorable man devoted to a noble cause or love interest.

Someone who fights or toils well.

(chess) A chess piece, often in the shape of a horse's head, that is moved two squares in one direction and one at right angles to that direction in a single move, leaping over any intervening pieces.

The red or cuckoo gurnard (Chelidonichthys cuculus).

A playing card bearing the figure of a knight; the knave or jack.

A red herring cured kipper with flesh turned red.

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Ypthima.

(intransitive) To continue steadfast; to keep striving.

(modern) Any mushroom belonging to genus Tricholoma.

(intransitive) To serve as a soldier.

(transitive) To confer knighthood upon.

(intransitive) To intentionally restrict labor productivity; to work at the slowest rate that goes unpunished.

To promote (a pawn) to a knight.

To take a ride on (another person's horse) without permission.

A young servant or follower; a military attendant.

One who is engaged in military service as an officer or a private; one who serves in an army; one of an organized body of combatants.

In feudal times, a man-at-arms serving on horseback and admitted to a certain military rank with special ceremonies, including an oath to protect the distressed, maintain the right, and live a stainless life.

Especially, a private in military service, as distinguished from an officer.

A piece used in the game of chess, usually bearing a horse's head.

A brave warrior; a man of military experience and skill, or a man of distinguished valor; - used by way of emphasis or distinction.

A playing card bearing the figure of a knight; the knave or jack.

The red or cuckoo gurnard (Trigla pini.

To dub or create (one) a knight; - done in England by the sovereign only, who taps the kneeling candidate with a sword, saying: Rise, Sir --.

To serve as a soldier.

Originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit

To make a pretense of doing something, or of performing any task.

A chessman in the shape of a horse's head; can move two squares horizontally and one vertically (or vice versa)

An enlisted man or woman who serves in an army;

Raise (someone) to knighthood;

A wingless sterile ant or termite having a large head and powerful jaws adapted for defending the colony

Serve as a soldier in the military

Yes, women can be soldiers and serve in various roles within the military, including combat positions in many countries.

A soldier’s uniform is significant as it symbolizes their nation's identity, helps in camouflage during combat, and indicates rank and unit affiliation.

Yes, knights participated in tournaments which were competitive events involving jousting, sword fighting, and other martial contests to showcase their skills.

Soldiers can have a significant impact on international relations through peacekeeping missions, military alliances, and sometimes through participation in international conflicts.

Soldiers serve in various capacities including combat, logistics, engineering, medical support, and communications among others.

Soldiers are trained in modern warfare tactics which include handling of advanced weaponry, cyber warfare, and specialized tactics for urban and guerilla warfare.

Knights were trained from a young age in combat skills, horse riding, and the social etiquette required of their status, often starting as pages and squires before becoming knights.

Beyond warfare, knights also managed lands, served as court officials, and participated in local governance, reinforcing social order and justice.

While rare, there were women in history who were considered knights or equivalent, such as the Order of the Hatchet in Spain which honored women who defended the town of Tortosa against a Moorish attack.

Soldiers have access to a comprehensive support system including medical personnel, tactical support, intelligence officers, and logistics and supply chains.

The role of knights evolved from feudal lords and warriors to more ceremonial roles as military technology and social structures changed, especially with the rise of professional armies.

Knights followed the chivalric code, which emphasized virtues like honor, loyalty, and courage, as well as protection of the weak and respect towards adversaries.

The career path for a soldier can vary widely but typically includes promotions through various ranks based on merit, experience, and leadership qualities.

Being a soldier requires rigorous physical fitness, resilience to stress, adaptability to various environments, and the psychological strength to handle combat and military duties.

Knights were often rewarded with land, titles, and sometimes valuables like gold or horses as recognition for their service and valor.