white knight

noun

1

: one that comes to the rescue of another

especially : a corporation invited to buy out a second corporation in order to prevent an undesired takeover by a third

2

: one that champions a cause

Synonyms

• advocate
• advocator
• apostle
• backer
• booster
• champion
• espouser
• exponent
• expounder
• friend
• gospeler
• gospeller
• herald
• hierophant
• high priest
• paladin
• promoter
• proponent
• protagonist
• supporter
• true believer
• tub-thumper

Examples of white knight in a Sentence

a deserving cause in need of a charismatic white knight who will galvanize public support

Recent Examples on the Web

And this is an enormous deficit, a deficit that is in the range of the COVID deficits, without the benefit of any white knights. —Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 6 Oct. 2024

Here, his white knight’s armor is sullied before his face is scarred, and how that fits this version of Gotham City makes for a fitting rallying cry all its own. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Aug. 2024

Related Articles Friday was the deadline for Express to come up with a white knight/restructuring plan. —David Moin, WWD, 14 June 2024

As Farfetch seeks a buyer for Browns, Richemont looks for one for Net-a-Porter, and administrators seek a white knight for MatchesFashion, the future of once starry names is uncertain. —Elizabeth Paton, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

white knight

noun

: a party (as a corporation) invited to take over a corporation and thereby prevent its acquisition by another compare raider