Meaning & use
heroism
Last updated
UK/ˈherəʊɪzəm/
US/ˈherouɪzəm/
Meaning
noununcountable
Brave behavior in which a person risks harm or loss to protect or rescue others.
Grammar: No plural or a/a for the general idea: acts of heroism.
Patterns
- an act of heroism
- heroism in something
The firefighter received a medal for heroism.
Stories of everyday heroism filled the local paper.
It took heroism to run back into the burning building.
Common combinations
- an act of heroism
- Pulling the child from the river was an act of heroism.
- quiet heroism
- The nurses showed quiet heroism every day.
- display heroism
- The crew displayed great heroism in the storm.
- award for heroism
- He won an award for heroism.
- selfless heroism
- Her selfless heroism saved three lives.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bravery
- Bravery is general courage, while heroism suggests an especially admirable act to help others.
- courage
- Courage is the inner quality, but heroism is how it shows in dangerous action.
- valor
- Valor is formal and common in military settings, while heroism is more general.
- gallantry
- Gallantry often suggests brave, stylish conduct, especially in war.
Opposites
Word family
- hero noun
- a person admired for bravery
- heroine noun
- a female hero
- heroic adjective
- very brave
- heroically adverb
- in a brave way
- heroics noun
- brave or showy actions
Commonly confused: heroism or heroin?
heroism vs heroin
Heroin is a dangerous drug; it sounds like heroine, a female hero, and is unrelated to heroism.
Practice
The rescuer's ___ saved three people from the flooded car.
Choose one answer.
Heroism is the uncountable noun for brave action. Hero and heroine name people, and heroin is a drug.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “heroism”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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