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 of lore

Noun (1)

• science
• knowledge

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

And while China’s personal luxury market has contracted by as much as 5% in 2025, according to consulting firm Bain & Company, certain high-value items are increasingly popular in netizen lore. — CNN Money, 8 July 2026

The area was declared a national park in 1959, a decision King credits with helping to preserve his people’s culture and lore. — Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

But whatever the color, cut, or cost, no royal engagement ring has quite the romance or lore attached to it as Princess Diana’s legendary sapphire. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 6 July 2026

The houses are real, as are the materials inside of them, filled with Easter eggs from production designer Matt Likely, one of a small handful of folks who has known the true lore of From from the jump. — Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026

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

Rhymes for lore

• boar
• boer
• bore
• chore
• cor
• core
• corps
• crore
• door
• drawer
• floor
• flor

Kids Definition

lore

noun

ˈlō(ə)r, 

ˈlȯ(ə)r

: knowledge sense 1

especially : a particular body of knowledge or tradition

forest lore