cowardice
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of cowardice
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English cowardise, from Old French co(u)ardise; equivalent to coward + -ice
Explanation
Cowardice is a lack of bravery. If you run away screaming when your Uncle Marvin shows up to the Halloween party in a clown mask, you will betray your cowardice — particularly if you're not a child. The opposite of courageousness is cowardice. For example, not standing up for someone who's being bullied shows cowardice. The origin of the words coward and cowardice has been traced to the Latin word for "tail," coda, showing a connection with a popular phrase that describes cowardice: "walking away with their tails between their legs."
Vocabulary lists containing cowardice
"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act II
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Divergent
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The American Crisis," Vocabulary from 1-2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I deemed this an act of maturity and self-preservation, definitely not cowardice.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
At the time, this led her to label what was unfolding as the "trial of cowardice".
From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026
“Self-censorship” is what Mr. Hersh calls the flaw in so many news organizations to miss or ignore controversial stories, when what he really means is laziness and cowardice.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025
Jordy proclaimed his innocence in a video on social media, saying that the police had the "cowardice" to raid his home on his daughter's third birthday.
From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025
It was the sickness of cowardice overcoming me.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
