heroic

Heroic is an adjective used to describe actions, qualities, or narratives associated with heroes. It denotes courage, self-sacrifice, and noble conduct, especially in the face of danger or adversity. The term can apply to individuals who perform exemplary deeds, to the portrayal of such deeds in literature and film, or to styles and traditions that celebrate extraordinary acts of bravery. The related noun is heroism.

Word origins trace to Greek hērōikos, from hērōs meaning hero, through Latin heroicus and Old French heroique before entering English as heroic in the early modern period. The sense has expanded from a strictly epic reference to broad, figurative uses of bravery.

In classical and medieval literature, heroic acts elevate a character above ordinary humanity; in modern media, the term describes protagonists and deeds that resemble those of legendary heroes. The phrase 'heroic poetry' or 'heroic fantasy' signals elevated language and noble aims, while 'heroic' also appears in everyday descriptions of courageous actions by ordinary people, such as first responders.

In poetry, the term also names a form: the heroic couplet, two rhymed lines of iambic pentameter used for epic or elevated subjects. The designation signals a status and tone appropriate to grand or solemn themes.

Because heroism is culturally defined, the label heroic can be contestable or aspirational rather than factual. Critics distinguish real-world bravery from fictionalized or aestheticized depictions, noting that context, motive, and consequences shape what counts as heroic.