Audacity
noun
Definition
1. Bold courage or daring, especially in challenging norms or taking risks.
2. Shocking rudeness or disrespectful nerve.
3. The willingness to do something that others wouldn’t dare.
2. Shocking rudeness or disrespectful nerve.
3. The willingness to do something that others wouldn’t dare.
Context Alive
Everyone in the meeting sat frozen, afraid to speak. The CEO had just proposed a plan that would clearly fail, and no one wanted to be the person to say it. Then the youngest employee in the room showed remarkable audacity by raising her hand and respectfully explaining why the numbers didn’t work, providing data that the senior executives had been too nervous to mention.
Meanings
4 meanings
1
Shocking rudeness or nerve — VERY COMMON (negative)
Common
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This is the meaning you’ll hear most often in everyday conversation, especially in the phrase “have the audacity to.” When someone has the audacity to do something, they’re doing something so rude, disrespectful, or inappropriate that it shocks you. It expresses outrage—how dare they! A guest who criticizes your cooking at your own dinner party has the audacity to insult you in your home. This usage always carries negative judgment.
Vivid ExampleAfter arriving two hours late without any apology, he had the audacity to complain that dinner was cold, leaving everyone at the table staring in disbelief at his complete lack of self-awareness or basic manners.
2
Bold courage and daring — COMMON (positive or neutral)
Common
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In this sense, audacity describes impressive boldness—the courage to attempt something difficult, risky, or unconventional. Entrepreneurs need audacity to start businesses when everyone says they’ll fail. Artists show audacity when they break traditional rules. This meaning celebrates bravery and the willingness to challenge what’s expected, even when success is uncertain.
Vivid ExampleThe young filmmaker displayed remarkable audacity by submitting her low-budget documentary to the world’s most prestigious film festival, never imagining that her bold move would result in a standing ovation and three award nominations.
3
Willingness to break rules or norms — CONTEXT-DEPENDENT
Common
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Sometimes audacity sits between positive and negative—it describes someone who ignores conventional boundaries, which might be admirable or outrageous depending on your perspective. A politician who speaks bluntly shows audacity; some voters love it while others find it offensive. This meaning highlights the boundary-breaking nature of the action without necessarily judging it as good or bad.
Vivid ExampleThe startup founder was known for her audacity in business negotiations, making demands that more experienced executives would never dare to make, sometimes winning incredible deals and sometimes walking away with nothing.
4
Creative or intellectual boldness — ARTISTIC/LITERARY
Common
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In discussions of art, literature, science, or ideas, audacity describes bold innovation—the courage to think differently or create something radically new. A composer who abandons traditional harmony shows musical audacity. A scientist who challenges established theories demonstrates intellectual audacity. This usage celebrates risk-taking in the realm of ideas and creativity.
Vivid ExampleCritics praised the novel for its narrative audacity, admiring how the author had abandoned linear storytelling entirely and created something that felt completely new, challenging readers to experience fiction in ways they never had before.
Examples from the Street
“I can’t believe she had the audacity to ask for a raise after being late every day.”
I’m shocked she was bold and shameless enough to request more money given her poor attendance
“The audacity of this guy!”
How dare he! / The nerve of this person! (expressing outrage)
“It took real audacity to stand up to the CEO like that.”
It required genuine boldness and courage to challenge the boss
Common Patterns
have the audacity to (verb) → be shameless/rude enough to do something
the audacity of (someone/something) → expressing outrage at someone’s nerve
the sheer/absolute audacity → emphasising how shocking the boldness is
“The audacity!” → exclamation of disbelief at someone’s rudeness
can’t believe the audacity → expressing shock at shameless behaviour
the audacity to dream/try/challenge → the courage to attempt something daring
creative/intellectual audacity → bold, unconventional thinking
with audacity → in a bold, daring manner
audacity and vision → common pairing for bold leadership
the audacity of hope → famous phrase (Obama’s book title); bold optimism
remarkable/extraordinary audacity → impressive boldness
audacity in the face of (opposition/danger) → courage when confronting challenges
Collocations
3 collocationssheer audacity
extreme boldness that surprises people
have the audacity to
be bold or rude enough to do something
audacity of the plan
the surprising boldness of a proposal
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
I can’t believe you had the audacity to show up at her party after what you said about her
I’m shocked you were shameless enough to appear at her celebration given the nasty things you said.
2
He had the audacity to ask me for a loan after never repaying the last one
He was brazen enough to request I lend him money despite never returning what he borrowed before.
3
The sheer audacity of the crime shocked the entire community
The complete brazenness of the offence stunned everyone in the neighbourhood.
4
She looked at me and said, “The audacity!” when I suggested splitting the bill
She stared at me and exclaimed “How dare you!” when I proposed we each pay our share.
5
The audacity of that waiter — he corrected my French pronunciation in front of everyone
The nerve of that server — he pointed out my mistakes in speaking the language with all my friends watching.
6
It took real audacity to quit a stable job and start her own business
It required genuine boldness to leave secure employment and launch her own company.
7
The young architect’s designs showed creative audacity that impressed the judges
The junior designer’s plans displayed imaginative boldness that won over the panel.
8
His speech was remembered for its intellectual audacity and willingness to challenge convention
His address was recalled for its scholarly boldness and readiness to question tradition.
9
The rebels showed remarkable audacity by attacking the capital in broad daylight
The fighters displayed extraordinary boldness by striking the main city while the sun was still up.
10
What gave her the audacity to think she could just walk in without an appointment?
What made her bold enough to believe she could simply enter without having arranged a meeting?
Learner Examples
★
Some students have the audacity to submit homework they’ve clearly copied from the internet and expect me not to notice
Certain learners are brazen enough to hand in assignments they’ve obviously taken from online sources and assume I won’t realise.
★
Teaching requires a certain audacity — the willingness to stand in front of a room and say “I know something you don’t, and I’m going to help you learn it”
Instructing demands a kind of boldness — the readiness to position yourself before a group and declare “I possess knowledge you lack, and I’m going to assist you in acquiring it.”
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
1 item Idioms & Expressionsthe audacity of — shocking boldness or disrespect
The audacity of that driver cutting in front of everyone was unbelievable.
Synonyms & Antonyms
7 items
Synonymsnerve
informal, bold rudeness
boldness
daring to do something risky
guts
informal, courage to act
cheek
British informal, rude confidence
Antonymstimidity
being too shy to act
caution
being careful and reserved
humility
being modest and respectful