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rigmarole
[ rig-muh-rohl ]
/ ˈrɪg məˌroʊl /
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noun
an elaborate or complicated procedure: to go through the rigmarole of a formal dinner.
confused, incoherent, foolish, or meaningless talk.
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Also rig·a·ma·role [rig-uh-muh-rohl] /ˈrɪg ə məˌroʊl/
Origin of rigmarole
First recorded in 1730–40; alteration of ragman roll
Words nearby rigmarole
rigidify, rigidize, rigid motion, Rigil Kent, Rigil Kentaurus, rigmarole, rigolet, Rigoletto, rigor, rigorism, rigor mortis
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use rigmarole in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for rigmarole
rigmarole
rigamarole
/ (ˈrɪɡməˌrəʊl) /
noun
any long complicated procedure
a set of incoherent or pointless statements; garbled nonsense
Word Origin for rigmarole
C18: from earlier ragman roll a list, probably a roll used in a medieval game, wherein various characters were described in verse, beginning with Ragemon le bon Ragman the good
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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