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

Though the Prime Video TV series and the video games share continuity, the show tends to stay in its own lane, either complementing or adding to the overall lore of the source material. —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2026

Rather, Hawai’i’s collective wisdom was contained within chants, mythology, family lore, and ancient stories passed down orally from one generation to the next. —Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026

Its place in literary lore was cemented in 1900, when Oscar Wilde spent his final months in Room 16. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026

Chows are depicted on Chinese pottery dating to the Han dynasty; some lore maintains that this aloof, moody breed evolved in the shadow of the North Pole. —Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 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