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

In the grander scheme of NBA lore, preserving the sanctity of rivalry. — Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

After the match, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins shared a fist bump, signifying the end of the Shield lore in WWE. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Local lore places Circe’s island, Aeaea, either on Ponza, the idyllic isle just off the coast, or at Monte Circeo, the imposing mountain named for her. — Laura Itzkowitz, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026

Based on that lore and the ending of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, the story appears to be building toward Afton’s return as Springtrap, the terrifying primary antagonist of the third game. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 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