# audacity

/ɑˈdæsəti/ (US) · /ɔːdˈæsɪti/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/audacity
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

the quality of being brave or confident in a way that might seem shocking or rude to others.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Often used in the construction 'the audacity to [verb]' or 'the audacity of [noun]'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.