Meaning & use
valor
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
Great courage, especially when facing danger or difficulty, such as in battle.
Grammar: Uncountable: show valor, an act of valor. Not *a valor.
Patterns
- show valor
- act of valor
- demonstrate valor
The soldier was awarded a medal for his valor in combat.
She showed great valor in saving the children from the fire.
His valor in the face of danger inspired everyone.
Common combinations
- valor in battle
- He displayed valor in battle and was honored by his country.
- act of valor
- The rescue was an act of valor.
- medal for valor
- The soldier received a medal for valor.
- show valor
- She showed valor when helping the victims.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bravery
- More general and common; bravery can be used in everyday situations, while valor often suggests heroic courage in danger.
- courage
- Courage is the most general term; valor is more formal and literary, often associated with combat.
- heroism
- Heroism emphasizes noble actions, while valor emphasizes the personal quality of bravery.
Opposites
Word family
- valorous adjective
- Brave, especially in battle; formal.
- valorously adverb
- In a brave manner; formal.
Commonly confused: valor or value?
valor vs value
Value means worth or importance; valor means courage. They sound similar but have different meanings.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'valor' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Valor means courage, so it fits in sentence 0. The other options confuse valor with 'valance' (a window covering), 'value' (worth), or use it as a verb, which is not standard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “valor”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.