courage
Americannoun
-
the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.
- Synonyms:
- spirit, pluck, intrepidity, dauntlessness, fearlessness
- Antonyms:
- cowardice
-
Obsolete. the heart as the source of emotion.
idioms
noun
-
the power or quality of dealing with or facing danger, fear, pain, etc
-
the confidence to act in accordance with one's beliefs
-
to nerve oneself to perform an action
-
obsolete mind; disposition; spirit
Usage
What does courage mean? Courage is the quality of being ready and willing to face negative situations involving danger or pain. A close synonym is bravery. Showing courage is often thought of as facing such situations without fear, but it also involves facing them despite fear. In other words, someone who has courage might not be fearless, but they face the dangerous, difficult, or frightening situation anyway. The adjective courageous means having, showing, or done with courage. It can be used to describe people who have courage, or the actions of such people when they face negative situations resolutely. A close synonym is brave. Example: We should all show our appreciation for the courage of our first responders, who face danger every day but still, somehow, decide to show up and put the wellbeing of other people before their own safety.
Related Words
Courage, bravery, valor, bravado refer to qualities of spirit and conduct. Courage permits one to face extreme dangers and difficulties without fear: to take (or lose) courage. Bravery implies true courage with daring and an intrepid boldness: bravery in a battle. Valor implies heroic courage: valor in fighting for the right. Bravado is now usually a boastful and ostentatious pretense of courage or bravery: empty bravado.
Etymology
Origin of courage
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English corage, from Old French, equivalent to cuer “heart” (from Latin cor; cf. heart) + -age -age
Compare meaning
How does courage compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Someone with courage is bold and brave, unafraid to face tough challenges. Unlike the Cowardly Lion, who went all the way to the Emerald City to see if the Wizard had any courage to spare. In Middle English, courage referred to “what is in one’s mind or thoughts." Today, anyone with courage has only fearless feats and courageous acts in mind. Having courage means acting when others are afraid of the danger, or simply acting without fear of failure. As the American poet Robert Frost advised, “Have courage and a little willingness to venture and be defeated.”
Vocabulary lists containing courage
Veterans Day Vocabulary
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!
Body Language: Cor, Cord, Cardio ("Heart")
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!
Beowulf vocabulary
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 think courage is contagious in this context too.
From Slate • May 18, 2026
“Brian Lindstrom died this morning the way he lived — with gentleness and courage, grace and gratitude for his beautiful life,” she wrote.
From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2026
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said the VAR, Darren England, had showed "a lot of courage" to rule out the goal, while West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo criticised a "lack of consistency" by referees.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
This latter group included people with the good sense and courage to express disagreement with the president and urge caution when it was merited.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
Once again proving her extraordinary will and courage, Ona bargained with Whipple.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
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.
