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Sometime in the 15th century, English speakers began to use stalwart in place of the older form stalworth. Although stalworth is now archaic, it laid the groundwork for today's meaning of stalwart. During the 12th century, forms of stalworth began to be used to describe strongly built people or animals (a meaning stalwart carries). It also came to be used as an adjective for people who showed bravery or courage (likewise a meaning passed on to stalwart). So, in a way, stalwart has been serviceable in keeping the spirit of stalworth alive. This character of stalwart is true to its roots. Stalworth came from the Old English word stǣlwierthe (meaning "serviceable"), which, in turn, is thought to come from terms meaning "foundation" and "worth."
Examples of stalwart in a Sentence
Time, 9 Apr. 2025
The stalwart offensive lineman was cut by the Bengals after experiencing a down year in 2024.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2025
The Jenny Lewis–led indie stalwarts are returning to the stage for the first time since 2008, making this one-day event a must-see for elder millennials.
—Dan Reilly, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stalwart
Cite this Entry
“Stalwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stalwart. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stalwart
1 of 2 adjective
stalwart
2 of 2 noun
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