rigor

noun

rig·​or ˈri-gər 

1

a(1)

: harsh inflexibility in opinion, temper, or judgment : severity

The least one might observe is that this muddle of … extreme rigor and casual permissiveness … has consequences.

—Peter Berkowitz

(2)

: the quality of being unyielding or inflexible : strictness

The rule … has been enforced with a rigor worthy of a better cause.

—John D. Calamari and Joseph M. Perillo

(3)

: severity of life : austerity

… a moral rigor and growth that might help this country.

—Stanley Kauffmann

b

: an act or instance of strictness, severity, or cruelty

… the humanist must recognize the normality, the practical necessity of the very rigors he is trying to soften and correct.

—Hermann J. Muller

2

: a tremor caused by a chill

This young woman presented at the hospital with severe abdominal pain and signs of infection, including fever, rigor, and leukocytosis.

—Robert E. Scully et al.

3

: a condition that makes life difficult, challenging, or uncomfortable

especially : extremity of cold

the rigors of a New England winter

4

: strict precision : exactness

logical rigor

Tentatively one might suggest that what characterizes science is the rigor of its methodology …

—Ernst Mayr

5

a

obsolete : rigidity, stiffness

b

: rigidness or torpor of organs or tissue that prevents response to stimuli

c

: rigor mortis

A fish has its best flavor and texture when cooked while just coming out of rigor.

—Jane Daniels Lear

Synonyms of rigor

• hardship
• difficulty

Examples of rigor in a Sentence

They underwent the rigors of military training.

the rigors of life in the wilderness

They conducted the experiments with scientific rigor.

a scholar known for her intellectual rigor

Recent Examples on the Web

Technology here is not displayed for show but placed at the service of academic rigor and patient safety. —Dr. Victor Raúl Castillo Mantilla, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025

Call it protecting teenagers from the rigors of life in the NHL. —Josh Yohe, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025

To complement the architecture’s rigor, the current owners turned to designer André Mellone of Studio Mellone, known for his elegant restraint and understanding of proportion. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025

This measurable framework is aligned to three focus areas—Product, Lives, and Planet—and functions as a business transformation strategy that applies the same rigor as MAS’s core operations. —Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rigour, from Anglo-French, from Latin rigor, literally, stiffness, from rigēre to be stiff

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing rigor

• rigor mortis

Rhymes for rigor

• bigger
• digger
• jigger
• rigger
• trigger
• vigor
• gravedigger
• obligor
• outrigger

Kids Definition

rigor

noun

rig·​or ˈrig-ər 

1

a

: the quality of not being flexible or yielding

b

: an act or instance of being strict or harsh

2

: a shuddering caused by a chill

3

: a condition that makes life difficult or uncomfortable

especially : extreme cold

4

: strict precision : exactness

logical rigor

Medical Definition

rigor

noun

rig·​or

ˈrig-ər, British also ˈrī-ˌgȯr

1

a

: chill sense 1

b

: a tremor caused by a chill

2

a

: rigidity or torpor of organs or tissue that prevents response to stimuli

b

: rigor mortis