bravery

noun

brav·​ery ˈbrā-və-rē 

ˈbrāv-

plural braveries

1

: the quality or state of having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty : the quality or state of being brave : courage

showing bravery under fire

2

a

: fine clothes

wearing their Sunday bravery

b

: showy display

… the streets strewed with flowers and full of pageantry, banners, and bravery.

—John Evelyn

Synonyms

• array
• best
• caparison
• feather
• finery
• frippery
• full dress
• gaiety
• gayety
• glad rags
• regalia

Examples of bravery in a Sentence

He received a medal for bravery.

children in their Sunday bravery

Recent Examples on the Web

To the unaccompanied minors who have come from Central America for the last quarter of a century: Thank you for showing more bravery in your young lives than anyone in Trump’s administration can ever dream of. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024

From small towns to bustling Chicago, the men left for war and came home with legacies of bravery, resilience and brotherhood. —Christy Gutowski, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2024

Through Don't Spread the Wealth and their popular podcast Wealth on Main Street, Lowe and Canfield strive to equip ordinary people with the know-how and bravery to fix their finances and bet big on their families. —Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024

It’s been a hard and complex road to this moment, requiring bravery most cannot begin to fathom. —Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French braverie "bravado, challenge, audacity," from braver "to challenge, flout, brave entry 2" + -erie -ery

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bravery

noun

brav·​ery ˈbrāv-(ə-)rē 

plural braveries

1

: the quality or state of being brave : fearlessness

2

a

: fine clothes

b

: impressive or showy display