noun
Common
balls
bawlz
Balls (noun) means Courage and boldness; nerve. Example: “It takes balls to quit a stable job and start a business.”
noun
1
Courage and boldness; nerve.
"It takes balls to quit a stable job and start a business."
"She had the balls to confront her boss directly."
2
Nonsense (used as an exclamation or dismissal).
""That's a load of balls," he scoffed."
How to use balls
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishInformally, either raw courage/nerve, or a dismissive way of calling something nonsense.
When to use it
Vulgar slang; avoid in formal or professional writing.
Common pairings
have the balls to
talk balls
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- ballses
- Past tense
- ballsed
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It takes _____ to quit a stable job and start a business.
Related words
Rhymes for balls
See all rhymes for balls →Frequently asked questions
What does “balls” mean?
The word “balls” means courage and boldness; nerve. In plain terms, informally, either raw courage/nerve, or a dismissive way of calling something nonsense.
How do you pronounce “balls”?
“Balls” is pronounced bawlz (/bɔːlz/ in IPA).
How do you use “balls” in a sentence?
Here is “balls” used in a sentence: “It takes balls to quit a stable job and start a business.”
What part of speech is “balls”?
“Balls” is a noun.
Is “balls” a common word?
“Balls” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “balls” have?
“Balls” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: courage and boldness; nerve.
What does it mean to have balls?
To have balls is an informal, slang way of saying someone has courage, boldness, or nerve. Saying 'it took balls to speak up' praises their bravery in a difficult situation. The phrase is casual and can sound crude in formal settings, so it suits friendly or emphatic speech rather than professional writing.
Is balls a formal or informal word?
In this sense, balls is decidedly informal slang. It carries energy and emphasis but can sound coarse, so it is best kept to casual conversation among friends. In formal or professional contexts, words like courage, nerve, or boldness convey the same idea without the crude edge.
What are some polite alternatives to saying balls?
If you want the same meaning without the slang, you can say courage, nerve, boldness, guts, backbone, or daring. 'It took guts to do that' or 'she showed real nerve' keep the admiring tone while sounding more acceptable in formal settings or professional conversation.
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