stolen valor

English

Etymology

Coined by American writer B. G. Burkett in 1998.

Noun

stolen valor (uncountable) (US)

  1. An instance of a person falsely claiming to have served in the military, or of a member of the military falsely claiming to have served in ways they did not.
  2. (law) An instance of stolen valor in which the perpetrator has the intention to receive money, donations, discounts, or other benefits.
  3. The respect or benefits so gained.
  4. (figurative) Any instance of falsely claiming to be a part of a respected group to gain that respect.
    • 2020 December 15, Kenzie Bryant, “Kimberly Guilfoyle Pivots to Trumpfluencing”, in Vanity Fair‎[1], archived from the original on 15 December 2020:
      For the most part there are clothes and canvas totes and Palm Springs–esque items that better suit any old bland Trumpfluencer than the blue-collar, stolen-valor look of most Trump merch.
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