fighting spirit

UK/ˌfaɪ.tɪŋ ˈspɪɹ.ɪt/US/ˌfaɪ.t̬ɪŋ ˈspɪɹ.ət/

noun

confidence, courage and resolve expressed as a zeal to fight, struggle, or contend

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Meanings

nounfighting spirit (countable and uncountable, plural fighting spirits)

plural fighting spirits

  1. countableuncountableconfidence, courage and resolve expressed as a zeal to fight, struggle, or contend

    The gallantry and aggressive fighting spirit of the Russian soldiers command the American army's admiration.

    General George C. Marshall, statement in the official press release accompanying the U.S. War Department's release of the famous 1943 documentary "The Battle of Russia", which was part of Frank Capra's Why We Fight film series
    1 more example

    Psychologically, you have to have confidence in yourself... It's just you and your opponent at the board and you're trying to prove something. Chess is war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent's mind... You have to have the fighting spirit. You have to force moves and take chances. That's what chess is all about.

    Chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer, Interview with Ralph Ginzburg Harper's Magazine.January 1962 issue
  2. countableidiomaticuncountableOne's willpower or ability to continue partaking in difficult activities or to continue fighting against insurmountable odds.

    This feeling I get, of worthlessness, complete inadequacy; I am my own worst enemy, and noone has ever made me feel less than I am, and noone can ever make me feel more whole than I can...myfighting spirit refuses to give up.

    Sayed Hamid Fatimi, The Philosophy of Reason

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 鬥志 /斗志
  • 鬥志 /斗志 (dòuzhì)ability to keep going despite the odds
Finnish taistelutahto, tsemppi
  • taistelutahtoability to keep going despite the odds
  • tsemppiability to keep going despite the odds
  • taisteluhenkiability to keep going despite the odds
French esprit combattant, gnaque
  • esprit combattantability to keep going despite the odds
  • gnaqueability to keep going despite the odds
German Kampfgeist
  • Kampfgeistability to keep going despite the odds
Greek αγωνιστικότητα
  • αγωνιστικότητα (agonistikótita)ability to keep going despite the odds
Hebrew רוח קרב
  • רוח קרב (rúakh kráv)ability to keep going despite the odds
Indonesian semangat juang
  • semangat juangability to keep going despite the odds
Japanese 闘志, 戦意
  • 闘志 (tōshi)ability to keep going despite the odds
  • 戦意 (sen'i)ability to keep going despite the odds
Romanian spirit de luptă
  • spirit de luptăability to keep going despite the odds
Swedish kämpaglöd, kämparanda
  • kämpaglödability to keep going despite the odds
  • kämparandaability to keep going despite the odds
  • jävlar anammaability to keep going despite the odds
  • kampandaability to keep going despite the odds
Cite this entry
APA

fighting spirit. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fighting%20spirit

MLA

“fighting spirit.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fighting%20spirit. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fighting spirit,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fighting%20spirit.

Source: fighting spirit on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.