Cowardice
/ˈkaʊərdɪs/
Definitions
A lack of bravery; the quality of being a coward.
/ˈkaʊərdɪs/
Lack of bravery or courage.
His cowardice prevented him from defending his friend.
💡 Simply: It's when you're really scared of something and instead of facing it, you run away. Like, if someone's afraid of the dark and refuses to go into a dark room, we could say they're showing cowardice in that moment.
👶 For kids: Being scared and not being brave.
More Examples
The general was accused of cowardice after ordering the retreat.
The soldiers were determined to overcome their fears and not show any signs of cowardice.
How It's Used
"The act of running from battle is often seen as cowardice."
"Cowardice was a serious offense in many ancient societies."
Idioms & expressions
to die of fear
To be overwhelmed with fear to the point of inaction or collapse.
"He was so terrified by the situation that he practically died of fear."
From Middle English *cowardise*, from Old French *coardise*, derived from *coart* meaning "coward" (from *coda*, meaning "tail," suggesting someone with their tail between their legs), + *-ise* (a suffix forming nouns).
Cowardice has been a subject of moral and legal condemnation throughout history, often resulting in severe penalties in military contexts.
Memory tip
Think of a frightened cat: the *cow* in *cowardice* implies a retreat from facing a challenge or a perceived threat.