bravery
AmericanRelated Words
See courage.
Other Word Forms
- overbravery noun
Etymology
Origin of bravery
First recorded in 1540–50; probably from Italian braveria; equivalent to brave + -ery
Compare meaning
How does bravery compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Bravery is the admirable quality of being able to confront frightening things. It takes bravery for a knight to battle a dragon, but it also takes bravery for a shy child to walk into a new classroom. You can also call bravery courage or valor. Firefighters are often acknowledged for their bravery, but everyday people also act with bravery if they confront their fears. Even though you're scared when you jump out of the plane with your skydiving instructor, the fact that you're doing it at all takes real bravery. It also takes bravery to pet a friend's German shepherd, especially if you are afraid of dogs. The earliest meaning of bravery was closer to bravado: "daring, defiance, and boasting."
Vocabulary lists containing bravery
"Saying Yes" and "A Lion Hunt"
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Part 1 Vocabulary (Unit 5)
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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.
“She was working in a far more difficult time for so many of us. The moral clarity of her art — and her bravery — are so powerful.”
From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026
Its suspenseful build to a climactic act of bravery demonstrates, writes Katie Daniels, that “resilience might spring from the unlikeliest of places.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
"We will remember the courage and bravery of our fallen members and every officer that has doggedly pursued this outcome for the community."
From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026
The George Medal is granted in recognition of acts of great bravery, with Newby due to receive it during a ceremony at St James' Palace in London.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
With extraordinary bravery, civil rights leaders, activists, and progressive clergy launched boycotts, marches, and sit-ins protesting the Jim Crow system.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
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.
