ShortMeaning, pronunciation & vowel sounds
Audacity Meaning & Pronunciation
/ɔˈdæsəti/ · noun
Audacity is a willingness to take bold risks, or a shocking, disrespectful boldness. Context decides whether it is admiration or criticism.
How to say it
How to pronounce audacity
audacity
The vowel breakdown
Vowel sounds in audacity
Each vowel sound below shows the letters that spell it, the sound they make, and the phonics pattern behind it.
Au spells the /ɔ/ sound of caught and sauce, in the unstressed first syllable.
Practise this pattern →C says /s/ before i, and the i is weak, close to /ə/ in unstressed speech.
Practise this pattern →Definition
What does audacity mean?
A willingness to take bold risks; fearless daring.
“It took audacity to launch a new airline during a recession.”
Rude or shocking boldness; impudence.
“She had the audacity to ask for a refund after wearing the dress.”
Word forms: audacity · audacious (adjective)
The adjective is audacious, as in an audacious plan. People also use the phrase "the audacity!" to express disbelief at someone's nerve.
Where it comes from
Origin of audacity
Audacity comes from French audace, from Latin audax, meaning bold, which comes from audere, to dare.
Similar words
Frequently asked questions
What does audacity mean?
Audacity means bold daring, or a shocking and disrespectful boldness. It depends on context whether it sounds admiring or critical.
How do you pronounce audacity?
Audacity is pronounced /ɔˈdæsəti/, or aw-DASS-ih-tee, with the stress on the second syllable.
Is audacity good or bad?
It can be either. Audacity in a plan or a performance is admired, while the audacity to be rude or demanding is criticized.
Why does the c in audacity say s?
Because c says /s/ before e, i, and y. This is the soft c rule, the same pattern as in city and race.