Audacity
/ɔːˈdæsɪti/
nounB2
Definition
Audacity is the quality of being very bold and confident, sometimes in a way that seems rude or shocking. It means taking risks or doing things that others might think are too brave or disrespectful.
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⚡ See It in Action
Boldness or courage to do something risky or surprising
- •She had the audacity to ask for a raise on her first day.
- •It takes audacity to speak your mind in front of a large crowd.
- •His audacity impressed everyone at the meeting.
Behavior that seems rude or disrespectful because it is very bold
- •The audacity of the driver to cut in line shocked the other people.
- •They were shocked by the audacity of his comments.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "audacity" like "brave," but stronger and sometimes a little bit rude or shocking.
- ✓Picture someone standing up loudly in a quiet room and saying something surprising without fear.
- ✓It's the feeling you get when someone does something unexpected that takes courage but might annoy others.
- ✓Sounds like "aw-DASS-it-tee" → imagine a person named "Dassy" who always does bold things without worry.
- ✓Think of famous stories where heroes take big risks, like Robin Hood stealing from the rich—he had audacity.
- ✓NOT like "shy" (quiet and afraid), audacity is about being loud and bold.
- ✓NOT like "rude" (just being mean), audacity is about courage but can be seen as rude.
- ✓NOT like "careful" (thinking before acting), audacity often means acting without much care for rules.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Nerve: courage or confidence, often used when someone does something shocking (Use when you want to emphasize surprise or shock)
- •Gall: rude confidence (Use in informal or negative contexts)
- •Courage: ability to face danger or difficulty (Use when focusing on positive bravery without rudeness)
- •Impudence: disrespectful boldness (Use when emphasizing rudeness more than bravery)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; "audacity" comes from a root word related to hearing or boldness
- •Etymology: From Latin "audacitas," meaning boldness or daring, from "audax" (bold, daring)
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1500s to describe daring or bold behavior, sometimes with a negative tone
- •Modern usage: Used to describe both positive bravery and negative rudeness, depending on context
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can audacity be a good quality in some situations and a bad one in others? When?
•How does audacity compare to simple bravery in your own life or culture?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She showed audacity by ___ to speak up when everyone else was silent.
2.The audacity of his action surprised everyone because he ___ the usual rules.
3.When someone has audacity, they often act without ___ for what others think.
4.His audacity to ask for a favor after being late showed he had ___ confidence.
5.Unlike careful people, those with audacity sometimes ___ the risks without fear.
6.The driver’s audacity to cut in line made other drivers feel ___.
7.Audacity can be seen as positive when it helps someone ___ a problem, but negative when it shows ___ for others.