What does coward mean?
A coward is a person who shows a shameful lack of courage, particularly someone who shrinks from danger, hardship, or confrontation when bravery is called for. The term is inherently pejorative: to call someone a coward is to accuse them of moral failing rather than mere timidity, which makes it a pointed insult as well as a straightforward description. It appears most often in contexts of battle, confrontation, or moral testing — 'only a coward would desert his comrades,' or 'he was too much of a coward to tell her the truth.' Related forms include the adjective 'cowardly,' describing timid or fearful behavior, and the noun 'cowardice,' denoting the quality itself. The word derives from Old French 'couard', ultimately rooted in Latin 'cauda', meaning tail, evoking the image of an animal that tucks its tail between its legs in fear. Antonyms include hero, brave person, or daredevil.
nounA person who is contemptibly lacking in courage, especially one who avoids danger or difficulty out of fear.
- A person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, or pain.
"He called himself a coward for refusing to stand up to the bully."
"Only a coward would abandon his friends in their hour of need."
"She refused to be called a coward simply because she chose caution over recklessness."
Standard regular plural, used when referring to multiple people regarded as cowards.
"History rarely remembers the cowards who stayed home while others fought."
The word 'coward' literally traces back to 'tail' — medieval French insulted a fearful man by calling him an animal that tucks its tail between its legs.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coward
The word comes from Old French 'couard' or 'couart', formed from 'coe' (also 'coue'), meaning tail, derived from Latin 'cauda'. The original image was that of a frightened animal turning its tail or tucking it between its legs. English adopted it around the late Middle Ages, and it quickly became a standard term of reproach. Its Latin root also underlies words such as 'caudal' relating to tails.
Related word forms
How coward is actually used
Primarily used as an insulting or pejorative term, so it carries strong negative connotation and should be applied to people only deliberately. The adjective form is 'cowardly' and the abstract noun is 'cowardice'.
Easily confused with coward
Cower is a verb meaning to shrink back in fear, while a coward is a noun naming a person who lacks courage.