rigor
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the quality of being very careful, thorough, and exact.
the quality of being extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate. Often used in academic or professional contexts to describe high standards.
Simple“The university is known for the academic rigor of its science programs.”
In context“The study was criticized for lacking the statistical rigor necessary to support such a controversial conclusion.”
UsageUncountable in this sense.
Teacher's tipRemind students that this is the American spelling; British English uses 'rigour'.
SynonymsAntonymslaxitycarelessness - 02 C1 Advanced
the difficult or unpleasant conditions of something.
the harsh, demanding, or unpleasant conditions of a particular environment or lifestyle.
Simple“The soldiers were trained to survive the rigors of the desert.”
In context“Few explorers were prepared for the physical rigors of the expedition across the frozen tundra.”
UsageUsually used in the plural form: 'the rigors of'.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
a sudden feeling of cold with shivering and a high temperature.
a sudden attack of shivering and a feeling of coldness, typically accompanied by a rapid rise in body temperature.
Simple“The patient suffered a severe rigor shortly after the surgery.”
In context“The onset of a high fever was preceded by a violent rigor that lasted for nearly twenty minutes.”
UsageCountable in medical reports.
“At some point, a person becomes too famous to submit to the rigours of a weekly magazine show.”
From Old French, from Latin rigor (“stiffness, rigidity, rigor, cold, harshness”), from rigere (“to be rigid”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.