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
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Divergent
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"The American Crisis," Vocabulary from 1-2
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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.
"And in the ultimate act of cowardice and contempt, you have refused to come into court to hear from the family of the grief you have caused."
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
I deemed this an act of maturity and self-preservation, definitely not cowardice.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
At this point, all we can hope is that his inherent cowardice will win out over his monstrous ego one more time.
From Salon ● Feb. 24, 2026
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, the most ruthless member of the top echelon, went into hiding, his reputation for cowardice intact.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 4, 2026
He had almost revealed himself then and there, but something stopped him—caution, cowardice, instinct, call it what you will.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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.
