valor
Americannoun
Related Words
See courage.
Etymology
Origin of valor
1350–1400; Middle English valo ( u ) r < Anglo-French; Middle French valeur < Late Latin valōr-, stem of valor worth, equivalent to Latin val ( ēre ) to be of worth + -or -or 1
Explanation
Valor is honor plus dignity. It’s gallant bravery and strength, especially on the battlefield or in the face of danger. Saint George displayed valor when he finally slayed the dragon. It’s a trait fit for a hero. Valor comes from the Latin valorem for “strength, moral worth,” with the sense of “courage” added later. Valor is often displayed in the face of something designed to crush it, like a battle in a war, and it is often rewarded with the conferring of a medal. Valor is a word associated with war heroes and knights of yore, but anyone who faces death and doesn’t look away displays valor.
Vocabulary lists containing valor
Veterans Day Vocabulary
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"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 1–7
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The Things They Carried
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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.
More than 16 million Americans served in World War II. A conflict of that scale demands valor and bravery, and our servicemen answered the call.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
As a marine, Mueller earned a Bronze Star for valor and a Purple Heart for wounds received in combat.
From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026
I mean, Reagan raves about the “impossible valor of the Poles,” “the forces of Free France” and the “unsurpassed courage of the Canadians.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2025
But this week, he was accused of "stolen valor" for allegedly saying he carried a weapon of war in war — which he did not.
From Salon • Aug. 12, 2024
He briefed us on the detachment’s military training, political education, and valor in the field.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
