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”; de ( def. ), rigor ( def. )

Example Sentences

All are de rigueur in today’s business class on U.S. airlines, of course.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

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

From Slate • Oct. 4, 2024

When he first opened, he dutifully stocked his back bar with ingredients for de rigueur cocktails: cranberry juice for Cosmopolitans and a $100 jar of fancy olives for Dirty Martinis.

From Salon • Sep. 18, 2024

Membership at the Palm Royale is de rigueur, and once inside, Maxine claws her way to the top of society while hiding her secret poverty.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 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