vigor

especially British, vig·our

[vig-er]

noun

1. active strength or force.

2. healthy physical or mental energy or power; vitality.

   Synonyms: strength, force, drive

3. energetic activity; energy; intensity.

   The economic recovery has given the country a new vigor.

4. force of healthy growth in any living matter or organism, as a plant.

5. active or effective force, especially legal validity.

Other Word Forms

• vigorless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vigor¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English vigo(u)r, from Anglo-French; Middle French vigeur, from Latin vigor “force, energy,” from vig(ēre) “to be vigorous, thrive” + -or -or ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see vim and vigor.

Example Sentences

“We will protect our Judeo-Christian founding with vigor. . . .We have to bring back religion in this country, bring it back stronger than ever before,” he said.

From Salon

The sugar that made life safer for us is the queer activism that begins with telling true tales of queer lives and persists today with renewed need and renewed vigor.

From Los Angeles Times

And they delivered, with a seething set full of menace and vigor.

From Salon

The words “communists,” “socialists,” “evil Democrats,” “witch hunt” and “fake news” spew forth, not only with vigor, but as if nothing more needs to be said about any subject other than a catchy headline.

From Salon

Chicotel said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the state’s recent vigor in issuing AA violations and moving forward with license suspensions.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ability 
• agility 
• alertness www.thesaurus.com
• capability 
• dynamism 
• endurance 
• intensity 
• potency 
• quickness www.thesaurus.com
• strength 
• urgency 
• vitality