rigor
Americannoun
-
rigors
plural
-
strictness, severity, or harshness, as in dealing with people.
- Synonyms:
- stringency, inflexibility
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the full or extreme severity of laws, rules, etc.
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severity of living conditions; hardship; austerity.
the rigor of wartime existence.
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a severe or harsh act, circumstance, etc.
- Synonyms:
- cruelty
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scrupulous or inflexible accuracy or adherence.
the logical rigor of mathematics.
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severity of weather or climate or an instance of this.
the rigors of winter.
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Pathology. a sudden coldness, as that preceding certain fevers; chill.
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Physiology. a state of rigidity in muscle tissues during which they are unable to respond to stimuli due to the coagulation of muscle protein.
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Obsolete. stiffness or rigidity.
noun
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med a sudden feeling of chilliness, often accompanied by shivering: it sometimes precedes a fever
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pathol rigidity of a muscle; muscular cramp
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a state of rigidity assumed by some animals in reaction to sudden shock
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the inertia assumed by some plants in conditions unfavourable to growth
Usage
What is rigor? Rigor is strictness and inflexibility, as in The military academy was known for its dedication to perfection, discipline, and rigor. Rigor is also hardship or austerity, as in Young soldiers are rarely ready to handle the rigors of war. Rigor can also refer to a strict accuracy, as with scientific experiments. If a teacher is known for their rigor, they are very strict about things like students finishing all their homework and are likely to punish students who don’t follow the rules. A person known for rigor is likely to support punishments for people who misbehave rather than rewards for people who behave. Rigor can also mean a condition that makes life harder, such as living without electricity. When referring to austerity, can mean living without a lot of things that make life pleasant, like takeout food, video games, and traveling. Finally, rigor can mean strict accuracy or precision, as in The report on water pollution was commended for its scientific rigor. In British English, this word is commonly spelled as rigour. The adjective form of rigor is rigorous and it is most often used to mean something is very harsh or full of difficulties, as in It takes years of rigorous training to be an Olympic athlete. Example: We nearly froze as we huddled in the log cabin and suffered through the rigors of the harsh, unforgiving winter.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of rigor
1350–1400; Middle English rigour < Latin rigor stiffness, equivalent to rig ( ēre ) to be stiff + -or -or 1
Explanation
When a school boasts of its academic rigor, it means its students learn a lot and work really hard. Rigor means thoroughness and exhaustiveness — the gold standard for a good teacher. You may have heard of "rigor mortis" — which is a medical term describing the stiffness of a body after death. Another meaning of rigor is "sternness or severity" — for many, the rigors of boot camp are not easy to endure.
Vocabulary lists containing rigor
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The film frames their lapses in rigor as the joys of being a teenager, rather than imperfections — or worse, weakness in the pursuit of glory.
From Salon ● Aug. 18, 2026
“Egan-Jones stands behind the integrity, independence, and rigor of its ratings,” the company said in a statement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
"This important certification validates the rigor of our airplane's design and recognizes the determination and resilience of our 737 MAX development team," said Stephanie Pope, president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
The FAA clearance “validates the rigor of our airplane’s design and recognizes the determination and resilience of our 737 MAX development team,” Boeing said in a statement.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
Let’s just say that with all that formality and rigor, I was not a happy camper.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
The German, who logic says should be eaten alive by the horrible rigors of his job at Ibrox, also looks like he's revelling in the gig.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2025
It is one of the striking amenities at High Point, which prides itself on preparing students for the rigors of a career—and has also become a favorite of affluent families.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2025
Instead of going out, he’s armed the tour bus with a recording studio to document this new phase of life amidst the rigors of fast stardom.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2025
In other words, Mr. Gould writes, “young strivers who were willing to endure the rigors of urban decay.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2025
Lady Sybelle’s infant daughter was still on the breast, and she had judged the girl too delicate to expose to the rigors of another stormy crossing.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
