Stolen Valor

What is stolen valor?

False claims of military service

Stolen valor is when a person lies about their military service or the accolades they received for said service. It may include wearing military uniforms, medals, or badges, or telling others they served in the military when they did not.

People who commit stolen valor often do so to gain respect, sympathy, or other benefits from others, exploiting the honor associated with military service. For example, a politician may lie or embellish their service records to gain approval from voters, or a protestor may wear a uniform they purchased to elevate their status.

Stolen valor is typically met with strong disapproval, as it disrespects those who have genuinely served in the military. People consider it not just morally wrong but, in some cases, it is illegal. In the United States, the Stolen Valor Act of 2013 makes it a crime to fraudulently claim military awards to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefits.

Stolen valor outside of the military

People may use stolen valor in contexts outside of military service. For example, a person may lie about their achievements on an athletic field, accomplishments in high finances, and status in a medical field.

Example

I can't believe America elected him POTUS
IKR? Evidently, no one cares about stolen valor
Stolen valor incident shared on Reddit
Stolen valor incident shared on Reddit

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Updated September 4, 2024

Stolen valor definition by Slang.net - The Slang Dictionary

This page explains what the slang term "Stolen valor" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been manually compiled and written by the Slang.net team.

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