valor

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noun val·or \ ˈva-lər \

Definition of valor

:strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness :personal bravery

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Examples of valor in a Sentence

The soldiers received the nation's highest award for valor.
the absence of indecision even in the face of death is the true mark of valor

Recent Examples of valor from the Web

A great deal of Confederate iconography was not commissioned in remembrance of soldierly valor or mawkish depiction of genteel Dixie.

— andrew c. mccarthy, National Review, "On Charlottesville, Trump, and Anti-Americanism," 19 Aug. 2017
Priebus attended a medal of valor ceremony at the White House Thursday where he was seen smiling broadly and applauding as Trump entered East Room.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "White House tensions flare in the open as Scaramucci rips Priebus in vulgar tirade," 27 July 2017
Many media outlets have cited this moment as one of McCain's most courageous shows of valor.

— robert newhouse, Teen Vogue, "5 Problematic Things Senator John McCain Has Done During His 35-year Career in Politics," 27 July 2017
Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valor when deciding exactly how much saturated fat to consume.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Where to eat, drink in Lansing, Michigan," 30 June 2017
Speaking Tuesday, District 4 Councilman John Williams said the move was inspired by Sullivan's valor in a tragic case.

— lawrence specker, AL.com, "Mobile renames park to honor man who died fighting off home invasion," 29 June 2017
Arthur J. Jackson, 92, a Medal of Honor recipient for his valor as a Marine in the World War II Battle of Peleliu, in the Pacific, died June 14 in Boise, Idaho.

— seattle times staff, The Seattle Times, "The week’s passages," 20 June 2017
The red stripes symbolize hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

— kitty conley, Post-Tribune, "Kitty Conley's Scratching Post," 19 June 2017
In North Chicago in May of 2014, firefighters Sterling Ricketts and Tim Kluchka received a valor award in 2015 from the 100 Club of Chicago for selfless and heroic actions when responding to a call about a dog attack.

— frank s. abderholden, Lake County News-Sun, "This is dog bite season, and 'it is not always the dog's fault'," 12 June 2017

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

When Should You Use valor?

Valor in uniform is still rewarded by medals. Many American civic organizations award a Medal of Valor for physical courage, and the Air Force Medal of Honor displays the single word "Valor". The somewhat old-fashioned adjective valorous more often describes warriors of the past. But valiant is still in common use, though it less often describes military courage than other kinds of bravery or effort.

Origin and Etymology of valor

Middle English valour "worth, worthiness, bravery," borrowed from Anglo-French valor, valur, inherited or borrowed from early Medieval Latin valor, from Latin val- (stem of validus "in good health, robust, having legal authority," valēre "to be well, have strength") + -or, noun suffix — more at valid, wield

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

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