valor

noun

val·​or ˈva-lər 

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

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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.

Synonyms

• bottle [British slang]
• bravery
• courage
• courageousness
• daring
• daringness
• dauntlessness
• doughtiness
• fearlessness
• gallantry
• greatheartedness
• guts
• gutsiness
• hardihood
• heart
• heroism
• intestinal fortitude
• intrepidity
• intrepidness
• moxie
• nerve
• pecker [chiefly British]
• prowess
• stoutness
• virtue

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 on the Web

That plot implies high-stakes wartime exploits and valor, which is what the nominal action-comedy depicts. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Apr. 2024

Instead of celebrating Ukrainian valor, many observers are chiding the country for not turning the tide and going on the offensive. —Dominic Tierney, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2024

Though Goetzman hopes that above all, viewers walk away with an understanding of the sacrifice and valor of the men fighting the war from the air. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2023

The song is the tribute that the man offers the woman, his wife, as a woman of valor, thanking her for all that she's meant to him in the preceding week and longer than that. —Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2024

Dive into a collection where each piece narrates a saga of valor, elegance, and ecological consciousness. —Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024

The red stripe is for valor, the white stripe for purity and the blue stripe for justice, vigilance and permanency. —Olivia Munson, The Courier-Journal, 5 Jan. 2024

An overwhelming victory is not guaranteed by either Ukrainian valor or Russian folly. —Liana Fix, Foreign Affairs, 28 Nov. 2023

Yet the film’s attitude seems to be: Come for the pierogis and goulash, stay for the humanitarian valor. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing valor

• discretion is the better part of valor

Kids Definition

valor

noun

val·​or ˈval-ər 

: personal bravery in the face of danger