knighted

Knighted refers to having been granted knighthood, a form of honorary title awarded by a monarch in certain countries, most notably the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms. A person who has been knighted is described as a knight (male) or a dame (female) and may use the style Sir or Dame before their forename. The knighthood is usually conferred in recognition of significant contributions to national life, including the arts, sciences, public service, or philanthropy. It is typically not a peerage and does not by itself grant a seat in Parliament or land.

Knighthood has medieval origins as a military and noble rank, but today it functions mainly as an honorary distinction. The modern UK honours system involves nominations, vetting, and consideration by honours committees, followed by approval by the monarch at an investiture ceremony. The basic non-order form of knighthood is Knight Bachelor; other forms exist as knighthoods within orders of chivalry, such as the Order of the Bath, the Order of the British Empire, or the Order of the Garter. Recipients may bear post-nominal letters such as KBE, DBE, or KG, depending on the order.

Notable examples include Sir Isaac Newton, who was knighted in the early 18th century, and Dame Judi Dench, who was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Outside the UK, various countries have their own knighthood-like honours or equivalents, often translated as chevalier or caballero, with different rules governing title usage and inheritance. The practice has occasionally faced criticism as a symbolic or political tool, but it remains a longstanding part of many honours systems.