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Synonyms

boor

American  
[boor] / bʊər /

noun

  1. a churlish, rude, or unmannerly person.

    Synonyms:
    vulgarian, philistine, churl, boob, oaf, lout
  2. a country bumpkin; rustic; yokel.

  3. peasant.

  4. Boer.


boor British  
/ bʊə /

noun

  1. an ill-mannered, clumsy, or insensitive person

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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”; -er 1; bond 2

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.

Is this not the conundrum of our time, and aren’t we fortunate to have this boor reminding us of this with each new episode?

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2026

Most memorable is the exit of Pozzo and Lucky that finds Pozzo slowly pushing Lucky in his wheelchair—illustrating the idea that there remains a bedrock of humanity even in this supercilious boor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 29, 2025

In an instant, his beach route comment did me a huge kindness and made me feel like an incurious boor.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2024

But Americans have long abided being the boor of their peer nations; it’s practically a point of pride.

From Slate • Sep. 7, 2023

“Yes it is,” said I, “because I cannot bear that people should say, ‘she throws away her graces and attractions on a mere boor, the lowest in the crowd.’”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens