bravery

Borrowed from Middle French braverie, from braver (“to brave”), or Italian braveria, from bravare (“to brave”).^[1] By surface analysis, brave +‎ -ery.

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɹeɪ.və.ɹi/, /ˈbɹeɪv.ɹi/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪvəɹi, -eɪvɹi

bravery (usually uncountable, plural braveries)

1. (usually uncountable) Being brave, courageousness.
   • 2025 November 12, Philip Haigh, “High praise for rail staff's courage and clear thinking”, in RAIL, number 1048, page 50:

     Huntingdon's ferocity makes the reaction of staff all the more brave. To move towards danger when others are fleeing is the definition of bravery in my book. To place yourself in danger to protect others.

2. (countable, rare) A brave act.
3. Splendor, magnificence.
   • 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 34”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:

     Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day,
     And make me travel forth without my cloak,
     To let base clouds o'ertake me in my way,
     Hiding thy brav'ry in their rotten smoke?

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 3:18:

     In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon

• (being brave): bravehood, braveness, courageousness, fearlessness; courage, pluck, valor; see also Thesaurus:courage