Courage Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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courage

[ˈkər-ij ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

bravery

Courage is the ability to do something that frightens one. It is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear.

Synonyms

bravery, fearlessness, valor.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
courage	Courage is the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. It is often associated with inner strength and resolve. She showed great courage in fighting the disease. It takes a lot of courage to speak up for what is right.
bravery	Bravery refers to the quality of being ready to face and endure danger or pain. It often involves physical action and quick decisions in the face of fear. The firefighter's bravery saved many lives that day. He was awarded a medal for his bravery in the battle.
valor	Valor is great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle. It is often used in formal or literary contexts and is associated with acts of heroism and gallantry. He was awarded the Medal of Valor for his service in the war. The knight's valor was legendary among his people.
fearlessness	Fearlessness implies a lack of fear in the face of danger. It is often used to describe someone who shows no sign of fear even in the most dangerous situations. Her fearlessness on the tightrope amazed the crowd. The fearlessness of the explorer in the wild jungles was remarkable.

Examples of usage

She showed great courage in standing up to her bullies.
It takes courage to speak up for what is right.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

moral strength

Courage can also refer to the moral strength to do what one believes is right even when it is difficult or dangerous.

Synonyms

fortitude, integrity, moral courage.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
courage	Used in general situations where someone shows bravery, especially in facing danger or adversity. It took a lot of courage to stand up to the bully. She showed great courage when she rescued the dog from the fire.
moral courage	Specifically refers to the ability to act ethically and stand up for what is right, even in the face of social or personal pressure. It took a lot of moral courage to speak out against the injustice. She showed moral courage by refusing to participate in the corrupt scheme.
integrity	Describes the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. It is used to talk about ethical and moral courage. He is a man of integrity who always tells the truth. Her integrity was never in question during the investigation.
fortitude	Refers to strength of mind that helps someone endure pain or adversity with courage. It is often used in more formal contexts. She bore her illness with great fortitude. Despite suffering many hardships, he showed remarkable fortitude.

Examples of usage

Her courage in fighting for justice inspired others to do the same.
It took courage for him to admit his mistake and apologize.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'courage'

The word 'courage' originated from the Old French word 'corage', which came from the Latin word 'cor' meaning heart. Throughout history, courage has been celebrated as a virtue and a quality that inspires others to overcome challenges and adversity.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,412, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.

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3409 blow
3410 gravity
3411 calculation
3412 courage
3413 fought
3414 sheets
3415 split
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