noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/bɹɑˈvɑdoʊ/
/bɹəˈvɑdoʊ/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɑːdəʊ
CMU ARPABET:B R AH0 V AA1 D OW0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A swaggering show of defiance or courage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The angry customer stood in the middle of the showroom and voiced his complaints with loud bravado.
1990 Amy Longsdorf, K.T. Oslin: Personality, Wit and Style To Spare", The Morning Callhttp://articles.mcall.com/1990-08-11/entertainment/2758085_1_oslin-country-music-kt Songs like "Hey Bobby", and "Do Ya" drip with innuendo and sexual bravado.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A superficial show of courage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A swaggerer; a braggart.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To swagger; to brag.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
a swaggering show of courage
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: bluster
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: ostentation, fanfare, flash
History
Etymology
From French bravade (“bragging or boasting”), from Italian bravata, from verb bravare (“brag, boast”), from bravo. Compare bravura.
Across languages
Translations
51 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
перчене
(perčene)
— a show of defiance or courage
Bulgarian:
фукане
(fukane)
— a show of defiance or courage
Finnish:
uhmakkuus
— a show of defiance or courage
French:
bravade
— a show of defiance or courage
German:
Angeberei
— a show of defiance or courage
German:
Draufgängertum
— a show of defiance or courage
German:
Gehabe
— a show of defiance or courage
German:
Getue
— a show of defiance or courage
German:
Getöse
— a show of defiance or courage
Greek:
νταηλίκι
(ntaïlíki)
— a show of defiance or courage
Hungarian:
harciasság
— a show of defiance or courage
Hungarian:
virtus
— a show of defiance or courage
Hungarian:
erőfitogtatás
— a show of defiance or courage
Icelandic:
mannalæti
— a show of defiance or courage
Icelandic:
sýndarhugrekki
— a show of defiance or courage
Irish:
gaisciúlacht
— a show of defiance or courage
Irish:
laochas
— a show of defiance or courage
Italian:
bravata
— a show of defiance or courage
Māori:
whakatumatuma
— a show of defiance or courage
Māori:
whāuraura
— a show of defiance or courage
Polish:
brawura
— a show of defiance or courage
Portuguese:
bravata
— a show of defiance or courage
Russian:
брава́да
(braváda)
— a show of defiance or courage
Spanish:
bravata
— a show of defiance or courage
Spanish:
bravura
— a show of defiance or courage
Tagalog:
bangad
— a show of defiance or courage
Chinese Mandarin:
虛張聲勢 /虚张声势
(xūzhāng-shēngshì)
— a false show of courage
German:
Gehabe
— a false show of courage
German:
theatralisches Getue
— a false show of courage
Greek:
ψευτοπαληκαρισμός
(pseftopalikarismós)
— a false show of courage
Greek:
νταηλίκι
(ntaïlíki)
— a false show of courage
Hungarian:
hősködés
— a false show of courage
Hungarian:
virtuskodás
— a false show of courage
Hungarian:
legénykedés
— a false show of courage
Icelandic:
mannalæti
— a false show of courage
Icelandic:
sýndarhugrekki
— a false show of courage
Irish:
gaisce
— a false show of courage
Irish:
laochas
— a false show of courage
Irish:
mórtas
— a false show of courage
Japanese:
虚勢
(kyosei)
— a false show of courage
Japanese:
空威張り
(karaibari)
— a false show of courage
Polish:
brawura
— a false show of courage
Portuguese:
bravata
— a false show of courage
Russian:
брава́да
(braváda)
— a false show of courage
Spanish:
bravata
— a false show of courage
Spanish:
bravuconada
— a false show of courage
Spanish:
bravura
— a false show of courage
Spanish:
baladronada
— a false show of courage
Spanish:
bravuconería
— a false show of courage
Tagalog:
bangad
— a false show of courage
Ukrainian:
брава́да
(braváda)
— a false show of courage
