Definition

Proper noun 1. The legendary capital city of King Arthur's kingdom: In Arthurian legend, Camelot is the seat of King Arthur's court and the location of the Round Table. It is often depicted as a utopian center of chivalry, justice, and noble ideals. 2. A place, time, or situation of idyllic happiness, idealism, or prosperity: By extension, "Camelot" is used to refer to any period or setting characterized by great hope, optimism, and apparent perfection, often one that is later viewed with nostalgia.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun (Legendary city):

  • The knights gathered at Camelot to swear their oaths of chivalry.
  • Many stories describe the splendor and justice that characterized life in Camelot.

• Proper noun (Figurative ideal):

  • The brief presidency was remembered as a modern Camelot, a time of youthful energy and cultural promise.
  • For them, that summer camp was a Camelot, a perfect world away from their ordinary lives.

Advanced Usage

• "a Camelot": Used as a common noun (preceded by "a" or "the") to describe any idealized place or era.
  • The community tried to create a Camelot of artistic freedom and mutual respect.

Variants and Related Words

• Arthurian (adj): Relating to King Arthur and his legends.
  • The Arthurian tales are full of magic and adventure.

Synonyms

• Utopia: An imagined place or state of perfection.
• Golden Age: A period of great peace, prosperity, and happiness.
• Shangri-La: A remote, beautiful, imaginary place where life approaches perfection.

Idioms and Phrases

• Like Camelot: Describing something as resembling the idealized Arthurian court.
  • Their early years of marriage were like Camelot, untouched by hardship.
• The Camelot era: Specifically used to refer to the presidency of John F. Kennedy in the United States (early 1960s), which was popularly associated with the ideals of the legend.
  • The fashion and music of the Camelot era have seen a resurgence in popularity.

Noun

1. (Arthurian legend) the capital of King Arthur's kingdom; according to the legend, truth and goodness and beauty reigned there