- the ability and determination to do something successfully despite difficult conditions
- The next game will be a real test of their mettle.
- She really showed her mettle under pressure.
Word Originmid 16th cent.: specialized spelling (used for figurative senses) of metal.Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
Idioms
See mettle in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionaryon your mettle
- prepared to use all your skills, knowledge, etc. because you are being tested
- The team will be on their mettle for the big game.
Check pronunciation:
mettle