adj
brazen
BRAY-zuhn
Brazen (adj) means Shockingly bold or shameless, without any embarrassment. Example: “It was a brazen attempt to cheat the system in broad daylight.”
adj
1
Shockingly bold or shameless, without any embarrassment.
"It was a brazen attempt to cheat the system in broad daylight."
"She gave a brazen denial even though everyone had seen her do it."
2
Made of, or resembling, brass.
"The old clock had a brazen face worn smooth by handling."
verb
1
To face a difficult or embarrassing situation with bold confidence, usually as "brazen it out".
"He brazened it out, insisting he'd done nothing wrong."
How to use brazen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDoing something outrageous or dishonest without any shame or hesitation.
Memory tip
Think "brass neck" — brazen behaviour is bold enough to seem almost shameless.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
brazen lie
brazen attempt
brazen it out
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- brazens
- Past tense
- brazened
- Comparative
- more brazen, brazener
- Superlative
- most brazen, brazenest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was a _____ attempt to cheat the system in broad daylight.
Etymology
From Old English bræsen, "made of brass." The modern sense of "shamelessly bold" grew out of the older figurative idea of a face like brass — hard, shiny and unmoved by shame.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “brazen” mean?
The word “brazen” means shockingly bold or shameless, without any embarrassment. In plain terms, doing something outrageous or dishonest without any shame or hesitation.
How do you pronounce “brazen”?
“Brazen” is pronounced BRAY-zuhn (/ˈbɹeɪ̯zən/ in IPA).
How do you use “brazen” in a sentence?
Here is “brazen” used in a sentence: “It was a brazen attempt to cheat the system in broad daylight.”
What part of speech is “brazen”?
Depending on how it is used, “brazen” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “brazen” come from?
The word “brazen” comes from Old English. From Old English bræsen, "made of brass." The modern sense of "shamelessly bold" grew out of the older figurative idea of a face like brass — hard, shiny and unmoved by shame.
How many meanings does “brazen” have?
“Brazen” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: shockingly bold or shameless, without any embarrassment.
