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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.”

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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.

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

Life, death, birth, illness, grief, heroism, fatigue, you know, pressure at work.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 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

“You are defending the freedom of Americans and of the South Vietnamese. Your acts of heroism and courage are celebrations of life, and all America thanks you.”

From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers

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.