Other forms: heroes, heros
A hero is the brave main figure of a story, or somebody admired for courage. A war hero, the hero of the book, my hero.
In literature the hero is simply the central figure, which is why an antihero is still a hero in that technical sense. In life it means somebody who acted bravely at real cost. Heroine is the feminine form, though hero is increasingly used for both. Note unsung hero; hero worship; and that a hero is also an American sandwich, which is a different word's worth of meaning entirely.
1nounheroThe brave main figure of a story.
“In the end, the hero saves the village and rides away into the sunset.”
2nounadmiredSomebody admired for courage.
“The firefighter was called a hero for saving the children.”
Too few real examples of this word to estimate which sense is commonest.
hero is an admired figure.
Also accepted in games: heroine
Greek heros meant a demigod, possibly from a root meaning to watch over or protect. It displaced the Old English word haeleth, which survives only in poetry.
Proto-Indo-European
*ser- (guard)
Proto-Indo-European
*ser- — to watch over, protect
Ancient Greek
ἥρως — demi-god, hero
Latin
hērōs — hero
Old French
heroes
Middle English
heroes
English, today
hero
From Middle English heroes, from Old French heroes, from Latin hērōs (“hero”), from Ancient Greek ἥρως (“demi-god, hero”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European ser- (“to watch over, protect”); if so, related to Latin servo (“protect”). Displaced Middle English heleð, haleð, from Old English hæle, hæle.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA