braggadocio

noun

brag·​ga·​do·​cio ˌbra-gə-ˈdō-sē-ˌō 

-shē-,

-chē-,

-(ˌ)shō,

-(ˌ)chō

plural braggadocios

1

a

: empty boasting

b

: arrogant pretension : cockiness

the air of swaggering braggadocio that all important men are expected to show in fighting

—C. W. M. Hart

2

: braggart

Did you know?

Though Braggadocio is not as well-known as other fictional characters like Pollyanna, the Grinch, or Scrooge, in lexicography he holds a special place next to them as one of the many characters whose name has become an established word in English. The English poet Edmund Spenser originally created Braggadocio as a personification of boasting in his epic poem The Faerie Queene. As early as 1594, about four years after the poem was published, English speakers began using the name as a general term for any blustering blowhard. The now more common use of braggadocio, referring to the talk or behavior of such windy cockalorums, developed in the early 18th century.

Synonyms

• bluster
• bombast
• brag
• bull [slang]
• cockalorum
• fanfaronade
• gas
• gasconade
• grandiloquence
• hot air
• magniloquence
• rant
• rodomontade
• rhodomontade

Examples of braggadocio in a Sentence

a loudmouthed braggart who hid his cowardice with braggadocio

his braggadocio hid the fact that he felt personally inadequate

Recent Examples on the Web

After treating the divas to a lovely performance on harp, the gofer can’t resist a bit of braggadocio. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2024

Stitched together, the mash-up of Jay’s braggadocio and Chester’s bare emotion isn’t lyrically coherent, but somehow the tones make sense together. —Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 20 Nov. 2024

However, something happened in Serbia’s 95-90 overtime win over Australia that gave me a little pause in my American braggadocio. —Zach Harper, The Athletic, 8 Aug. 2024

On Instagram, where Chavez already has more than 53,000 followers, her game seems custom-fitted to a highlight reel — smooth handle, deep range and a dash of braggadocio. —Michael Errigo, Washington Post, 10 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Braggadochio, personification of boasting in Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

braggadocio

noun

brag·​ga·​do·​cio ˌbrag-ə-ˈdō-shē-ˌō 

-sē-ˌō,

-shō

plural braggadocios

1

: braggart

2

: loud and empty boasting

Etymology

from Braggadochio, a boasting character in literature