ergo
adverb
ergo
1 American
[ur-goh, er-goh]
/ ˈɜr goʊ, ˈɛr goʊ /
adverb
ergo-
2
American
especially before a vowel,
erg-
ergo-
3
American
ergo
1
British
/ ˈɜːɡəʊ /
noun
ergo
2
British
/ ˈɜːɡəʊ /
ergo
Cultural
Etymology
Origin of ergo1
Borrowed into English from Latin around 1350–1400
Origin of ergo-2
Combining form representing Greek érgon
Origin of ergo-3
From French
Explanation
The adverb ergo is a fancy version of "therefore." Use it as a connector between thoughts and sentences that logically follow. You were present during the robbery; ergo, you were called as a witness. Ergo appeared in late Middle English meaning "therefore," probably from the Old Latin root regere, "to guide." You can see the relation to the word as it is used today, to present a connection between ideas where a second sentence or idea is "guided" by, or draws a logical conclusion from the first one. Satirist Jonathan Swift once wrote, “Words are but wind; and learning is nothing but words; ergo, learning is nothing but wind.”
Vocabulary lists containing ergo
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Foreign Words and Phrases Commonly Used in English, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Merchant of Venice
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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 members—including Jean-Baptiste de Franssu, ex-chief of asset-management giant Invesco in Europe; Jochen Messemer, a top executive at ERGO, a large German insurer; and George Yeo, former foreign minister of Singapore—chatted nervously as they waited.
From Time • Aug. 14, 2014
ERGO: Per vomitum stomachus melius purgabitur, alvus Quam qua secretis exit opaca viis.
From The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume II (of 2) by Crashaw, Richard
ERGO: Illa Fides vacua quae sola superbiat aula,45 Quam Spes desperet, quam nee amabit Amor;211 Sola Fides haec, tam misere, tam desolate Sola, quod ad nos est, sola sit usque licet.
From The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume II (of 2) by Crashaw, Richard
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.
