Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

heroism

American  
[her-oh-iz-uhm] / ˈhɛr oʊˌɪz əm /

noun

  1. the qualities or attributes of a hero or heroine.

    He showed great heroism in battle.
    Synonyms:
    fortitude, daring, courage, bravery, gallantry, prowess, valor, intrepidity
    Antonyms:
    timidity, cowardice

  2. heroic conduct; courageous action.

    Pat's returning into the burning building was true heroism.
heroism British  
/ ˈhɛrəʊˌɪzəm /

noun

  1. the state or quality of being a hero

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of heroism

1660–70; hero + -ism; compare French héroïsme

Explanation

When you think of heroism, you might think of great acts of bravery, such as rushing into burning buildings and facing danger in battle. Heroism consists of putting others first, even at your own peril. The noun heroism comes from the Greek hērōs, which referred to a demigod. As someone who shows great courage and valor is referred to as a hero, their actions are considered to be acts of heroism. 19th Century lawyer Robert Green Ingersoll said it well: “When the will defies fear, when duty throws the gauntlet down to fate, when honor scorns to compromise with death — that is heroism.”

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing heroism

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!

Vocabulary about elements of an epic

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 Necklace" and "The Fashion Show"

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.

Iskander’s David is a young man whose youthful piety and heroism make him a sympathetic figure, notwithstanding the bag of cold cuts.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

Extremely online observers came up with bizarre metaphors to characterize Anthropic’s heroism and pushed Claude to the top of the app-store charts over the weekend.

From Slate • Mar. 3, 2026

Sustainable gains on law and order are years away at best, despite the heroism of Harfuch’s Untouchables.

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026

An official government statement read: "Our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism and fell, after fierce resistance, in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of bombings on the facilities."

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026

Kainene sounded admiring, as if his ignoring her was further proof of his heroism.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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.