bravery

/ˈbreɪvəri/

/ˈbreɪvəri/

Other forms: braveries

Bravery is the admirable quality of being able to confront frightening things. It takes bravery for a knight to battle a dragon, but it also takes bravery for a shy child to walk into a new classroom.

You can also call bravery courage or valor. Firefighters are often acknowledged for their bravery, but everyday people also act with bravery if they confront their fears. Even though you're scared when you jump out of the plane with your skydiving instructor, the fact that you're doing it at all takes real bravery. It also takes bravery to pet a friend's German shepherd, especially if you are afraid of dogs. The earliest meaning of bravery was closer to bravado: "daring, defiance, and boasting."

Definitions of bravery

1. noun

   a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
   synonyms: braveness, courage, courageousness

   types:

   heart, mettle, nerve, spunk

   the courage to carry on

   gallantry, heroism, valiance, valiancy, valor, valorousness, valour

   the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle)

   dauntlessness, intrepidity

   resolute courageousness

   Dutch courage

   courage resulting from intoxication

   stoutheartedness

   the trait of having a courageous spirit

   fearlessness

   the trait of feeling no fear

   fortitude

   strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage

   coolness, nervelessness

   fearless self-possession in the face of danger

   boldness, daring, hardihood, hardiness

   the trait of being willing to undertake things that involve risk or danger

   gutsiness, pluck, pluckiness

   the trait of showing courage and determination in spite of possible loss or injury

   backbone, grit, gumption, guts, moxie, sand

   fortitude and determination

   resilience

   the ability to recover readily from adversity or change

   type of:

   spirit

   a fundamental emotional and activating principle determining one's character
2. noun

   feeling no fear
   synonyms: fearlessness

   types:

   security

   freedom from anxiety or fear

   confidence

   a feeling of trust (in someone or something)

   type of:

   feeling

   the experiencing of affective and emotional states