braggadocio

noun

brag·​ga·​do·​cio ˌbra-gə-ˈdō-sē-ˌō 

-shē-,

-chē-,

-(ˌ)shō,

-(ˌ)chō

plural braggadocios

1

a

: empty boasting

b

: arrogant pretension : cockiness

the air of swaggering braggadocio that all important men are expected to show in fighting

—C. W. M. Hart

2

: braggart

Did you know?

Though Braggadocio is not as well-known as other fictional characters like Pollyanna, the Grinch, or Scrooge, in lexicography he holds a special place next to them as one of the many characters whose name has become an established word in English. The English poet Edmund Spenser originally created Braggadocio as a personification of boasting in his epic poem The Faerie Queene. As early as 1594, about four years after the poem was published, English speakers began using the name as a general term for any blustering blowhard. The now more common use of braggadocio, referring to the talk or behavior of such windy cockalorums, developed in the early 18th century.

Synonyms

• bluster
• bombast
• brag
• bull [slang]
• cockalorum
• fanfaronade
• gas
• gasconade
• grandiloquence
• hot air
• magniloquence
• rant
• rodomontade
• rhodomontade

Examples of braggadocio in a Sentence

a loudmouthed braggart who hid his cowardice with braggadocio

his braggadocio hid the fact that he felt personally inadequate

Recent Examples on the Web

On Instagram, where Chavez already has more than 53,000 followers, her game seems custom-fitted to a highlight reel — smooth handle, deep range and a dash of braggadocio. —Michael Errigo, Washington Post, 10 July 2024

You’d be forgiven for taking the title of their new album, Easy Being A Winner, as a bit of not-undeserved-but-slightly-delusional braggadocio. —Ryan Leas, SPIN, 3 Oct. 2024

Lyles’ bravado and braggadocios style has become part of his global persona; the Adidas athlete even advocated for his own signature sneaker at the podium on Sunday. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 6 Aug. 2024

In fact, Moscow has been annoyed by Assad’s recent braggadocio about reasserting total control. —Rajan Menon, Foreign Affairs, 29 Feb. 2016

Word History

Etymology

Braggadochio, personification of boasting in Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

braggadocio

noun

brag·​ga·​do·​cio ˌbrag-ə-ˈdō-shē-ˌō 

-sē-ˌō,

-shō

plural braggadocios

1

: braggart

2

: loud and empty boasting

Etymology

from Braggadochio, a boasting character in literature