noun
Etymology
Origin of boor
First recorded in 1545–55; from Dutch boer or Low German būr (cognate with German Bauer “farmer”), derivative of unattestest Germanic bū- “to dwell, build, cultivate”; see -er 1; cf. bond 2
Explanation
A boor is a crude, rude person. Boors lack sophistication and manners. Boors are worse than boring; they’re offensive and repulsive. To be a boor is to be an obnoxious, unsophisticated oaf. A boor would swear in church. A boor would talk too loudly on the train. A boor would get too drunk at a wedding reception. Boors lack manners and taste. When a boor is around, other people want to leave. If you have self-control and culture, you’ll never be accused of being a boor.
Vocabulary lists containing boor
Scrooge, Grinch, and Churl: Wonderful Words for Unpleasant People
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Society and Solitude
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The Legend of Auntie Po
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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.
The court heard Ms Boor was hit as "a large number of bricks" fell from the crane as they walked on the pavement on the corner of Burdett Road in Bethnal Green.
From BBC • Jun. 16, 2025
"Since most people don't turn on their exhaust fan while cooking, having kitchen hoods that activate automatically would be a logical solution," Boor said.
From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2024
Portable air filters can also reduce the concentration of particles inside rooms, says co-author Brandon Boor, a civil engineer at Purdue University.
From Science Magazine • Feb. 24, 2022
It was an implicit signal that they would not cross a picket line, should the Opera House Orchestra strike, de Boor said.
From Washington Post • Oct. 7, 2021
The point at issue is Shall Boor or Kaiser here be lord o' th' land.
From The Life of Friedrich Schiller Comprehending an Examination of His Works by Carlyle, Thomas
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.
