Valor
noun /ˈvæl.ər/ — Great courage in the face of danger; heroic bravery
Definition
Great courage shown in the face of danger — particularly in battle or in circumstances demanding physical and moral bravery. The word implies that the courage has been tested and has held.
Beyond the definition
Courage that the moment demanded. Valor is not general bravery — it is bravery called out by specific circumstances, the demonstration of what a person contains when the situation requires everything.
Origin & history
From Old French 'valor' (value, worth, courage) — from Late Latin 'valor' (value) — from 'valere' (to be strong, to be worth). Related to 'value', 'valid', and 'valiant'. Courage as a form of worth — the quality that makes a person valuable when it matters most.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The medal was for valor — the specific official recognition that someone did something requiring physical courage that most people do not have.
Moral valor is harder to assess than physical valor, which is why it is less often decorated.
The valor of the ordinary: the courage required to maintain integrity across decades without a single dramatic moment to point to.
Synonyms
bravery, courage, heroism, gallantry, fortitude
Antonyms
cowardice, timidity, faint-heartedness
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Person Standing at Forest Entry
An adult stands at the entrance of a dense, ancient forest, with one foot on a sunlit path and the other entering the deep shadow.
Standing at the threshold of the unknown requires courage that has been tested by the decision to enter. The image symbolizes the moral and physical bravery necessary to face challenging or significant experiences, demonstrating that the individual has the inner strength to proceed into the uncertain.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration