or
1(used to connect words, phrases, or clauses representing alternatives): books or magazines; to be or not to be.
(used to connect alternative terms for the same thing): the Hawaiian, or Sandwich, Islands.
(used in correlation): either … or; or … or; whether … or.
(used to correct or rephrase what was previously said): His autobiography, or rather memoirs, will soon be ready for publication.
otherwise; or else: Be here on time, or we'll leave without you.
Logic. the connective used in disjunction.
Origin of or
1usage note For or
Words that may be confused with or
Words Nearby or
Other definitions for or (2 of 8)
Origin of or
2Other definitions for or (3 of 8)
the tincture, or metal, gold: represented either by gold or by yellow.
of the tincture, or metal, gold: a lion or.
Origin of or
3Other definitions for OR (4 of 8)
a Boolean operator that returns a positive result when either or both operands are positive.
Origin of OR
4Other definitions for OR (5 of 8)
Law. on (one's own) recognizance.
operating room.
operations research.
Oregon (approved especially for use with zip code).
owner's risk.
Other definitions for -or (6 of 8)
a suffix occurring in loanwords from Latin, directly or through Anglo-French, usually denoting a condition or property of things or persons (ardor; honor; horror; liquor; pallor; squalor; torpor; tremor), sometimes corresponding to qualitative adjectives ending in -id4 (horrid; pallid; squalid; torpid). A few other words that originally ended in different suffixes have been assimilated to this group (behavior; demeanor; glamour).
Origin of -or
6usage note For -or
The suffix -or2 is now spelled -or in all forms of English, with the exception of the word savior, often spelled saviour in the U.S. as well as in Britain, especially with reference to Jesus.
Other definitions for -or (7 of 8)
a suffix forming animate or inanimate agent nouns, occurring originally in loanwords from Anglo-French (debtor; lessor; tailor; traitor); it now functions in English as an orthographic variant of -er1, usually joined to bases of Latin origin, in imitation of borrowed Latin words containing the suffix -tor (and its alternant -sor). The association with Latinate vocabulary may impart a learned look to the resultant formations, which often denote machines or other less tangible entities which behave in an agentlike way: descriptor; plexor; projector; repressor; sensor; tractor.
Origin of -or
7Other definitions for O.R. (8 of 8)
owner's risk.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use or in a sentence
As this list shows, punishments typically run to a short-ish jail sentence and/or a moderately hefty fine.
Winners are solely responsible for any and all federal, state, and local taxes and/or fees that may be incurred.
The Daily Beast Company LLC The New Alphas Sweepstakes Official Rules | | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWinners will be solely responsible for any and all local, state, and federal taxes, and/or fees that may be incurred.
The Daily Beast Company LLC The New Alphas Sweepstakes Official Rules | | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhy aren't you as handsome and/or Canadian as Justin Bieber?
Justin Bieber Isn’t Even 21, Yet Makes More Money Than Meryl Streep | Amy Zimmerman | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis band is different from the rock groups that go in for charismatic lighting and sing of love and/or sex.
The Stacks: Pauline Kael's Talking Heads Obsession | Pauline Kael | November 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
His name was Lefty something-or-other, and he was about the sneakiest stool the department had.
Brass—or-molu—gilt platinum to give it weight; this is from Birmingham, not from Australia, nor nature.
It Is Never Too Late to Mend | Charles ReadeHe wuz very peart and sassy, and it was take-it-or-leave-it-and-be-plaguey- quick-about-it all the time.
Si Klegg, Book 2 (of 6) | John McElroyMeanwhile the whale had made what appeared to be a grand and final neck-or-nothing rush in the direction of the shore.
The Norsemen in the West | R.M. BallantyneAmatory, am′at-or-i, adj. relating to or causing love: affectionate.
British Dictionary definitions for or (1 of 6)
/ (ɔː, unstressed ə) /
used to join alternatives: apples or pears; apples or pears or cheese; apples, pears, or cheese
used to join rephrasings of the same thing: to serve in the army, or rather to fight in the army; twelve, or a dozen
used to join two alternatives when the first is preceded by either or whether: whether it rains or not we'll be there; either yes or no
one or two a few
or else See else (def. 3)
a poetic word for either or whether as the first element in correlatives, with or also preceding the second alternative
Origin of or
1- See also exclusive or, inclusive or
British Dictionary definitions for or (2 of 6)
/ (ɔː) archaic /
(subordinating; foll by ever or ere) before; when
before
Origin of or
2British Dictionary definitions for or (3 of 6)
/ (ɔː) /
(usually postpositive) heraldry of the metal gold
Origin of or
3British Dictionary definitions for OR (4 of 6)
operations research
Oregon
military other ranks
British Dictionary definitions for -or (5 of 6)
a person or thing that does what is expressed by the verb: actor; conductor; generator; sailor
Origin of -or
5British Dictionary definitions for -or (6 of 6)
indicating state, condition, or activity: terror; error
the US spelling of -our
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
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