Word
audacity
Phoneticsau·dac·i·ty, stress on the second syllable
US/ɑˈdæsəti/
UK/ɔːdˈæsɪti/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the quality of being brave or confident in a way that might seem shocking or rude to others.
n. a willingness to take bold risks, or a rude and disrespectful lack of concern for social conventions.
Examples
“He had the audacity to ask for a raise after being late every day.”
“The young entrepreneur's audacity in challenging the industry giants eventually led to a complete market shift.”
“While some historians praise the general's audacity during the winter campaign, others argue that his reckless disregard for logistics nearly doomed the entire army.”
Examples
simple
“He had the audacity to ask for a raise after being late every day.”
contextual
“The young entrepreneur's audacity in challenging the industry giants eventually led to a complete market shift.”
complex
“While some historians praise the general's audacity during the winter campaign, others argue that his reckless disregard for logistics nearly doomed the entire army.”
Usage
Often used in the construction 'the audacity to [verb]' or 'the audacity of [noun]'.
Real-World Examples
“The awards, which celebrate creative audacity and ambition, have run since 2022.” “The audacity and sense of entitlement is breathtaking.” Etymology
From late Middle English audacite, from Medieval Latin audacitas, from Latin audax (“bold”), from audeō (“I am bold, I dare”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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