Meaning & use
American hero
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Meanings
nouncountable
A person admired in the United States for courage, sacrifice, or great achievement, often in war, exploration, or public service.
Grammar: Countable: say 'an American hero' or 'American heroes'. It is often used in a general or symbolic way.
Patterns
- an American hero
- be hailed as an American hero
- become an American hero
The pilot was celebrated as an American hero after the rescue.
Many schoolchildren learn about American heroes like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.
He never saw himself as an American hero, just someone doing his job.
nouncountablefigurative
A character in American fiction, film, or folklore who represents national ideals such as independence and bravery.
Grammar: Countable and often used with 'the': 'the American hero' can mean the typical heroic figure in stories.
Patterns
- the American hero in literature
- portray an American hero
The cowboy is a classic American hero in old Western movies.
The novel reimagines the American hero as an ordinary person facing everyday problems.
Word forms
| plural | American heroes |
|---|
Common combinations
- hail someone as an American hero
- The newspaper hailed the firefighter as an American hero.
- a true American hero
- She was a true American hero who spent her life helping veterans.
- unsung American hero
- The teacher was an unsung American hero in her community.
- American hero myth
- The film plays with the American hero myth.
Synonyms and how they differ
- national hero
- Similar but not limited to the US; 'American hero' specifically ties the admiration to American identity or history.
- patriot
- A patriot loves and supports their country, but an American hero is admired for brave or outstanding actions, not just loyalty.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: American hero or antihero?
American hero vs antihero
An antihero is a main character who lacks traditional heroic qualities; an American hero is admired and represents national ideals.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'American hero' correctly?
Choose one answer.
An American hero is admired for courage or great achievement, so bravery during a flood fits. The other options describe ordinary or negative actions that do not match the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “American hero”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.