lore

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈlȯr 

1

: a particular body of knowledge or tradition

the lore of baseball heroes

2

: something that is learned:

a

: traditional knowledge or belief

tribal lore

b

: knowledge gained through study or experience

the lore of religious architecture

3

archaic : something that is taught : lesson

lore

2 of 2

noun (2)

: the space between the eye and bill in a bird or the corresponding region in a reptile or fish

—usually used in plural

dark lores

loreal

ˈlȯr-ē-əl 

adjective

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• knowledge
• science
• wisdom

Examples of lore in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the home gardener had acquired her herbal lore from many years of trial and error

set out to study the rich lore of the Cajun people of Louisiana before it all vanished

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After 2019’s Avengers: Endgame effectively completed their decade-plus story arcs, Marvel had to delve deep into its lore to generate fresh interest. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 8 May 2024

Designed by the legendary Indian architect, the late Charles Correa, its form is part of architectural lore. —Prasad Ramamurthy, Travel + Leisure, 7 May 2024

The Hacks reference is just a sliver of the lore around the Top Gun star’s coveted cake. —Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024

This is not the first time Messud has drawn fiction from family lore. —Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 6 May 2024

While initially poorly received, appreciation for the film has grown in recent years — especially now that the lore has expanded, after Ewan McGregor reprised his role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in his own 2022 Disney+ series. —EW.com, 5 May 2024

Much of Los Angeles lore fits with longtime Mulaney motifs like true crime. —Alison Herman, Variety, 4 May 2024

In Kansas City weather lore, the small Leavenworth County town of Tonganoxie has an outsized role. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2024

If evacuation orders don't inspire you to flee the wrath of a hurricane, perhaps a shadowy figure plucked straight from Lowcountry lore will do the trick. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 3 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English lār; akin to Old High German lēra doctrine, Old English leornian to learn

Noun (2)

New Latin lorum, from Latin, thong, rein; akin to Greek eulēra reins

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (2)

1828, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lore

noun

ˈlō(ə)r,

ˈlȯ(ə)r

: knowledge sense 1

especially : a particular body of knowledge or tradition

forest lore