lore

1 of 2

noun (1)

Synonyms of lorenext
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 adjective

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
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Noun
Without diving into spoilers, Nika has become an integral part of the manga’s lore and endgame, the importance of which hasn’t been fully explored. Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026 Historic lore said the old church had two bells comprised of gold, silver and other precious metals. Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026 The Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) in Ohio has played a central role in UFO lore. Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 12 Mar. 2026 All these years later, the menu remains as good as its lore. Chelsea Brasted, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lore

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of lore was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lore. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

lore

noun
ˈlō(ə)r
ˈlȯ(ə)r
: knowledge sense 1
especially : a particular body of knowledge or tradition
forest lore

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