coward

Definition: A coward is a person who is excessively fearful in the face of danger or risk, or who refrains from taking action that is necessary to address a threat because of fear. In everyday usage the term is pejorative and implies moral judgment. Some scholars distinguish between proportionate fear, which can be rational and adaptive, and cowardice, which is seen as a voluntary and unwarranted avoidance of responsibility.

Etymology and origin: The word coward entered English in the Middle Ages. Its exact linguistic roots are debated; the term is generally treated as a pejorative formation from words for fear and lack of courage, with possible influences from Romance languages such as Old French.

Psychology and ethics: Cowardice is not a clinical diagnosis but a moral or social judgment about behavior. Fear is a natural emotion and can reflect survival instincts. Critics warn that labeling someone a coward can stigmatize legitimate risk assessment or protective action, while others argue that moral courage can involve facing danger or taking action despite fear, or choosing to seek help and avoid harm when appropriate.

Cultural portrayals: Cowardice appears in literature, drama, and film as a foil to bravery or as a character arc. The figure of the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz satirizes the difference between inner fear and outward performance, while military narratives often associate cowardice with desertion or failure to fulfill duty. Conversely, some stories explore the value of prudent caution and the ethics of risk.

See also: Courage, Bravery, Fear, Moral courage, Risk aversion.