# bravery

/ˈbɹeɪvɝi/ (US) · /bɹˈeɪvəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bravery
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. courage

noun · CEFR B1

the quality of being brave and facing danger or pain without fear.

For teachers: the quality of being brave; courageousness in the face of danger or difficulty.

- The young firefighter showed great bravery when he ran into the burning building.
- The medal was awarded for conspicuous bravery during the rescue operation, where the officer risked his life to save several trapped civilians.

### 2. a brave act

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a specific act or action that shows courage.

For teachers: a specific instance or act of courage. This countable usage is less common than the abstract sense.

- The history books are full of the braveries of soldiers from the past.
- The poet chronicled the various braveries of the knights, turning each individual deed into a verse of the epic.

### 3. splendour

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

great beauty or impressive appearance.

For teachers: splendour, magnificence, or fine appearance. This sense is now largely restricted to historical or literary contexts.

- The king arrived in all his bravery, wearing silk and gold.
- The garden was a riot of colour, displaying the full bravery of the spring blossoms against the grey stone walls.

## Examples

- The firefighter showed great bravery during the rescue.
- It took a lot of bravery for the witness to stand up in court and tell the truth.
- While physical bravery is often celebrated on the battlefield, the quiet bravery of those who challenge social injustice is equally vital for a healthy society.

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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.