valiant

1 of 2

adjective

val·​iant ˈval-yənt 

1

: possessing or acting with bravery or boldness : courageous

valiant soldiers

2

: marked by, exhibiting, or carried out with courage or determination : heroic

valiant feats

valiantly adverb

valiantness noun

valiant

2 of 2

noun

: a valiant person

Synonyms

Adjective

• brave
• courageous
• gallant
• heroic
• fearless
• heroical

Examples of valiant in a Sentence

Adjective

She died last year after a valiant battle with cancer.

Despite their valiant efforts, they lost the game.

She made a valiant attempt to fix the problem.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Journey with Marie and her valiant Nutcracker prince to the Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy to experience a classic story with distinctly local flair. —Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Oct. 2025

Despite the valiant efforts, catch-up hockey does not become them. —Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025

Meanwhile, a Tigers team that was the American League’s best for much of the regular season enters an odd winter after a September and October of valiant effort but ultimately unfulfilled expectations. —The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025

Kurtz made a valiant effort for the A’s in Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals, going 1-for-3 with a single plus a walk and scoring from second off a Shea Langeliers double in the eighth inning. —Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English vailant, valiant, borrowed from Anglo-French vaillant "worthy, strong, courageous," from present participle of valer "to be of worth," going back to Latin valēre "to have strength, be well" — more at wield

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1589, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

valiant

1 of 2 adjective

val·​iant ˈval-yənt 

1

: boldly brave

2

: done with courage : heroic

valiantly adverb

valiant

2 of 2 noun

: a valiant person