de rigueur

American  

[duh ri-gur, duh ree-gœr] / də rɪˈgɜr, də riˈgœr /

adjective

1. strictly required, as by etiquette, usage, or fashion.

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de rigueur British  

/ də riɡœr, də rɪˈɡɜː /

adjective

1. required by etiquette or fashion

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de rigueur Cultural  

1. A French term meaning necessary according to convention: “Formal dress is de rigueur at weddings.”

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Etymology

Origin of de rigueur

First recorded in 1825–35; from French: “of rigor”; see de ( def. ), rigor ( def. )

Example Sentences

Hurdles big and small are de rigueur for airlines, unfortunately, and there were some high ones to clear last year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

Taking photos of people in public and posting them online has become de rigueur behavior.

From Salon • Jul. 1, 2025

After every Emmys, it’s de rigueur to write about shows that were “snubbed.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2025

Jackson recently published Lovely One, her entry into the canon of de rigueur Supreme Court memoirs.

From Slate • Oct. 4, 2024

It became de rigueur among architecture critics and historians to argue that Burnham in his insecurity and slavish devotion to the classical yearnings of the eastern architects had indeed killed American architecture.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• mandatory
• necessary
• obligatory
• required