rigmarole

American  

[rig-muh-rohl] / ˈrɪg məˌroʊl /

Also rigamarole

noun

1. an elaborate or complicated procedure.

   to go through the rigmarole of a formal dinner.

2. confused, incoherent, foolish, or meaningless talk.

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rigmarole British  

/ ˈrɪɡməˌrəʊl /

noun

1. any long complicated procedure

2. a set of incoherent or pointless statements; garbled nonsense

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Usage

What is a rigmarole? A rigmarole is an elaborate or complicated procedure, as in Registering and insuring a car involves a lot of rigmarole.A rigmarole is any process or procedure that is overly complicated to the point that it may seem pointless or annoying to those who have to complete it. People will often refer to long, drawn-out explanations or formal introductions as rigmaroles. They will also frequently describe repetitive procedures, such as checking in, waiting in line for, or signing up for something, as rigmaroles.A rigmarole can also be confused, incoherent, foolish, or meaningless talk, as in The speaker just gave us a lot of rigmarole instead of any insight into the problem. This meaning is almost always used as an insult relating to speeches one disagrees with or an explanation that may have been too complex for them to understand. It is also sometimes used in reference to someone who speaks extremely fast or who uses obtuse or foreign vocabulary when speaking.Rigmarole can also be spelled rigamarole, which is pronounced rig-uh-ma-rohl.Example: Before I give the whole rigmarole, I would like to introduce my co-hosts.

Etymology

Origin of rigmarole

First recorded in 1730–40; alteration of ragman roll

Example Sentences

Shoes were a small part of the TSA rigmarole, but taking them off is an act that many Americans are reluctant to perform even at a friend’s house.

From Slate • Jul. 10, 2025

She said she has trouble with computers and requested a paper test, but that led to a whole additional rigmarole.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2023

“Matterhorn” fused those elements by incorporating the internal lives of the characters into the daily rigmarole of military life.

From Washington Post • Mar. 24, 2023

So are things different from back in January, when you may remember we went through this whole rigmarole and it fizzled out?

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2022

Lancelot, with an uncontrollable desire to get some of his misery off his chest by telling about it—and yet unable to tell the true story to this particular listener—began a long rigmarole about Elaine.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White