rigor
Americannoun
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strictness, severity, or harshness, as in dealing with people.
- Synonyms:
- stringency, inflexibility
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the full or extreme severity of laws, rules, etc.
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severity of living conditions; hardship; austerity.
the rigor of wartime existence.
-
a severe or harsh act, circumstance, etc.
- Synonyms:
- cruelty
-
scrupulous or inflexible accuracy or adherence.
the logical rigor of mathematics.
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severity of weather or climate or an instance of this.
the rigors of winter.
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Pathology. a sudden coldness, as that preceding certain fevers; chill.
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Physiology. a state of rigidity in muscle tissues during which they are unable to respond to stimuli due to the coagulation of muscle protein.
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Obsolete. stiffness or rigidity.
noun
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med a sudden feeling of chilliness, often accompanied by shivering: it sometimes precedes a fever
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pathol rigidity of a muscle; muscular cramp
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a state of rigidity assumed by some animals in reaction to sudden shock
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the inertia assumed by some plants in conditions unfavourable to growth
Usage
What is rigor? Rigor is strictness and inflexibility, as in The military academy was known for its dedication to perfection, discipline, and rigor.Rigor is also hardship or austerity, as in Young soldiers are rarely ready to handle the rigors of war.Rigor can also refer to a strict accuracy, as with scientific experiments.If a teacher is known for their rigor, they are very strict about things like students finishing all their homework and are likely to punish students who don’t follow the rules. A person known for rigor is likely to support punishments for people who misbehave rather than rewards for people who behave.Rigor can also mean a condition that makes life harder, such as living without electricity. When referring to austerity, can mean living without a lot of things that make life pleasant, like takeout food, video games, and traveling.Finally, rigor can mean strict accuracy or precision, as in The report on water pollution was commended for its scientific rigor.In British English, this word is commonly spelled as rigour.The adjective form of rigor is rigorous and it is most often used to mean something is very harsh or full of difficulties, as in It takes years of rigorous training to be an Olympic athlete.Example: We nearly froze as we huddled in the log cabin and suffered through the rigors of the harsh, unforgiving winter.
Etymology
Origin of rigor
1350–1400; Middle English rigour < Latin rigor stiffness, equivalent to rig ( ēre ) to be stiff + -or -or 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And he does not apply those historians’ rigor on every page.
“As we look ahead, our focus remains on driving stability and operational rigor to support sustained, long-term growth,” he said.
From MarketWatch
But the rigor of it, you have all these things to go to, and you have to have an outfit, and you to have your hair done, you have your makeup done.
From Los Angeles Times
Paradise Factory now bills itself as “bringing the rigor of theatrical discipline to the process of cinematic art, and bringing the intimacy and immediacy of the cinema into theatrical performance art.”
From Los Angeles Times
The resulting lack of rigor allows unprepared students to slide through undemanding courses while undercutting the preparation needed to become excellent doctors.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
