heroism

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈhɛroʊˌɪzəm/ UK /ˈhɛrəʊˌɪzəm/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
great bravery or noble self-sacrifice

Her quiet heroism during the famine was never publicly acknowledged.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · great bravery or noble... bravery valor courage gallantry fearlessness boldness intrepidity

Opposites

cowardice timidity pusillanimity

Word family

Related forms hero heroic heroine

Etymology

From French héroisme, from héros ('hero'), ultimately from Ancient Greek hērōs ('hero, demigod'), + the suffix -ism.

héros French ἥρως Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# heroism

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈhɛroʊˌɪzəm/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈhɛrəʊˌɪzəm/

## Meanings
1. great bravery or noble self-sacrifice

## Examples
- Her quiet heroism during the famine was never publicly acknowledged.

## Synonyms
- bravery
- valor
- courage
- gallantry
- fearlessness
- boldness
- intrepidity

## Antonyms
- cowardice
- timidity
- pusillanimity

## Related Forms
- hero
- heroic
- heroine

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: héros
- Root: ἥρως
- Affix: -ism - doctrine

## Etymology
From French héroisme, from héros ('hero'), ultimately from Ancient Greek hērōs ('hero, demigod'), + the suffix -ism.

## AI Etymology
Heroism comes from French héroisme, from héros ('hero'), ultimately from Ancient Greek hērōs ('hero, demigod'), + the suffix -ism. The etymological trail includes French héros and Ancient Greek ἥρως. As a noun, heroism names great bravery or noble self-sacrifice. The same family is visible in related forms such as hero, heroic, and heroine. The analysis is partly morphological, with the modern form built from the elements named in the history.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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