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
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!
Society and Solitude
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 Legend of Auntie Po
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.
Michaela Boor, 30, died in hospital the day after she was struck by two tonnes of material on the corner of Burdett Road in Mile End, east London, on 27 March 2018.
From BBC • May 12, 2025
"These super tiny nanoparticles are so small that you're not able to see them. They're not like dust particles that you would see floating in the air," 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
The KCOHO’s new contracts with the WNO and the arts center include a 9 percent pay cut in the first year but restore pay to almost pre-pandemic levels by the final year, de Boor said.
From Washington Post • Oct. 7, 2021
His next play to appear was a farce entitled "The Boor," which he wrote in a single evening and which had a great success.
From Swan Song by Fell, Marian
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.
