# hotspur

/hˈɒtspɔː/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hotspur
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a person who is very quick to act and often gets angry or excited easily. It describes someone who does things without thinking first, especially in a brave or reckless way.

For teachers: a person characterized by a rash, impetuous, or hot-headed temperament. Often used to describe historical or literary figures who act with reckless courage or sudden anger.

## Examples

- The young hotspur rushed into the fight without waiting for his team.
- History remembers him as a hotspur who preferred the glory of a charge over the safety of a strategic retreat.
- The political arena is often dominated by seasoned diplomats, yet occasionally a young hotspur emerges to challenge the established order with fiery rhetoric and impulsive policy proposals.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a literary epithet or to describe someone with a fiery, impulsive personality.

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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.