bravery

noun brav·ery \ ˈbrāv-rē , ˈbrā-və- \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of bravery

plural braveries

1 : the quality or state of having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty : the quality or state of being brave : courage

showing bravery under fire

2 a : fine clothes

wearing their Sunday bravery

b : showy display

the streets strewed with flowers and full of pageantry, banners, and bravery
—John Evelyn

See bravery defined for English-language learners

See bravery defined for kids

Examples of bravery in a Sentence

He received a medal for bravery.
children in their Sunday bravery

Recent Examples of bravery from the Web

The team shed tears of sadness, pain and joy and was deeply touched by every story of bravery and courage.

— Ramona Sentinel, "Off-road racer goes extra mile for breast cancer awareness," 4 Apr. 2018
And since the shooting, Borges has received an influx of letters thanking him for his bravery.

— CBS News, "Parkland shooting survivor, out of hospital, speaks out," 4 Apr. 2018
Its reputation is strongly associated with the extraordinary bravery and skill of the pilots who defended Britain against Germany’s Luftwaffe during World War II.

— Washington Post, "Queen Elizabeth praises Royal Air Force on 100th anniversary," 1 Apr. 2018
But that doesn't even begin to cover what Gaga is really known for: her bravery, her vulnerability, her willingness to take all kinds of risks, and her fearless approach to beauty.

— samantha sasso, refinery29.com, "The One Thing You've Probably Never Noticed About Lady Gaga," 27 Mar. 2018
While the subject matter is heartbreaking, I am inspired by these young activists’ bravery and eloquence.

— valentina zarya, Fortune, "Stormy Daniels, March for Our Lives, Kellyanne Conway: The Broadsheet for March 26th," 26 Mar. 2018
From Maryland this week comes another encouraging report about the skill and bravery of law enforcement.

— james freeman, WSJ, "Texas Bombings, a Maryland Shooter and Some Good Cops," 21 Mar. 2018
His attack, apparently inspired by ISIS, was thwarted by the bravery and quick thinking of several passengers, notably three young American tourists: Alek Skarlatos, Anthony Sadler and Spencer Stone.

— a.o. scott, New York Times, "Review: In ‘The 15:17 to Paris,’ Real Heroes Portray Their Heroism," 7 Feb. 2018
Cosumnes River College President Edward Bush responded to the issue last week by commending Perez for her bravery in an open letter.

— diana lambert, sacbee, "‘It was a shock.’ Student says she went to her counselor for help and he kissed her. | The Sacramento Bee," 30 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bravery.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.