lore

¹ American  

[lawr, lohr] / lɔr, loʊr /

noun

1. the body of knowledge, especially of a traditional, anecdotal, or popular nature, on a particular subject.

   the lore of herbs.

   Synonyms:

   wisdom

2. learning, knowledge, or erudition.

3. Archaic.

   1. the process or act of teaching; instruction.

   2. something that is taught; lesson.

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lore ² American  

[lawr, lohr] / lɔr, loʊr /

noun

Zoology.

1. the space between the eye and the bill of a bird, or a corresponding space in other animals, as snakes.

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lore ¹ British  

/ lɔː /

noun

1. collective knowledge or wisdom on a particular subject, esp of a traditional nature

2. knowledge or learning

3. archaic teaching, or something that is taught

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lore ² British  

/ lɔː /

noun

1. the surface of the head of a bird between the eyes and the base of the bill

2. the corresponding area in a snake or fish

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Related Words

See learning.

Other Word Forms

• loreless adjective

Etymology

Origin of lore¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English lār; cognate with Dutch leer, German Lehre “teaching”; learn

Origin of lore²

First recorded in 1615–25; from New Latin lōrum, special use of Latin lōrum “thong, strap”

Explanation

Lore is a body of knowledge or tradition that is passed down among members of a culture, usually orally. It's the lore in "folklore," and responsible for spreading the word on mythical figures like Santa Claus, Paul Bunyan, and even Uncle Sam. Most lore begins as an oral tradition, passed on by word of mouth, and only later takes on a written form. We tend to think of lore as something centuries-old, as in the British Arthurian lore surrounding the doings of the mythical King Arthur and his court. However, newer lore — such as baseball lore — is constantly springing up. Humans need and love their lore.

Example Sentences

The island fortress entered American cultural lore after a 1962 escape by three inmates, which became an inspiration for the film "Escape from Alcatraz" starring Clint Eastwood.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

The lore of La Mer goes back to its founding scientist, Max Huber.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Growing up in a household steeped in the lore of the TPLF, she was raised on stories of her father's sacrifices from 50 years ago fighting the Mengistu regime.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

As a result, it unfolds as if the viewer is already intimate with a franchise’s culture and lore, dropping us smack into the thick of things with little, if any, context.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

Of course, in his personal lore he would have said that he started with $200 in his pocket and a wife and baby and just a few words of English.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Related Words

• adage
• belief
• custom
• fable
• folklore
• knowledge
• legend
• mythology
• superstition
• tale
• tradition