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Cocksure: meaning, definitions and examples

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cocksure

 

[ ˈkɒkʃʊə ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

confidence level

Cocksure refers to a person who is overly confident or presumptuous about their abilities and knowledge. This term often implies a sense of arrogance and a lack of humility. While self-assurance can be a positive trait, being cocksure tends to suggest an unfounded level of certainty, sometimes leading to misjudgments or mistakes. It describes someone who exhibits a brash attitude, often disregarding the possibility of error or failure.

Synonyms

arrogant, cocky, overconfident, presumptuous.

Examples of usage

  • He was cocksure that he would win the race.
  • Her cocksure demeanor alienated her colleagues.
  • The cocksure investor ignored the warning signs.
  • Despite being cocksure about the project, he failed to deliver results.

Translations

Translations of the word "cocksure" in other languages:

🇵🇹 arrogante

🇮🇳 आत्मविश्वासी

🇩🇪 selbstsicher

🇮🇩 percaya diri

🇺🇦 самовпевнений

🇵🇱 pewny siebie

🇯🇵 自信過剰な

🇫🇷 sûr de soi

🇪🇸 seguro de sí mismo

🇹🇷 kendine güvenen

🇰🇷 자신감 넘치는

🇸🇦 واثق من نفسه

🇨🇿 sebevědomý

🇸🇰 sebeistý

🇨🇳 自信的

🇸🇮 samozavesten

🇮🇸 sjálfsöruggur

🇰🇿 өз-өзін сенімді

🇬🇪 თვითდაჯერებული

🇦🇿 özünə güvənən

🇲🇽 seguro de sí mismo

Etymology

The term 'cocksure' has its origins in the 18th century, emerging from two components: 'cock', a term used to denote a male bird, specifically a rooster that displays pride and confidence through its behavior and posturing, and 'sure', indicating certainty or confidence. This compound suggests an image of a rooster’s assertive demeanor, which translates to an overconfident human attitude. The earliest uses of the term can be traced back to the year 1777, where it was used to describe someone who had a proud and self-satisfied manner. The connotation of being cocksure often carried a negative implication, warning against excessive pride and the potential pitfalls of hubris. Over time, the word has retained its critical undertones, being used in various contexts to caution against unmerited overconfidence.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,564, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.