noun
moxie
MOK-see
noun
1
Courage, boldness, and force of character.
"It took real moxie to start a business with no savings."
"She had the moxie to challenge her boss in front of the whole team."
How to Use Moxie
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGuts, nerve, or spirited determination.
When to use it
Informal, mostly American English.
Common pairings
have the moxie
real moxie
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Etymology
From Moxie, the brand name of an American soft drink first sold in the 1880s that was marketed as giving people vigor and nerve — the sense of "courage" caught on from the advertising.