Word
rigor
Phoneticsrig·or, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹɪɡɝ/
UK/ɹˈɪɡɐ/
UK spelling · rigour
Definitions
01strictness or precision
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun American English
n. the quality of being very careful, thorough, and exact.
n. the quality of being extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate. Often used in academic or professional contexts to describe high standards.
“The university is known for the academic rigor of its science programs.”
“The study was criticized for lacking the statistical rigor necessary to support such a controversial conclusion.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02harsh conditions
C1 · Advanced Plural noun American English · Formal
n. the difficult or unpleasant conditions of something.
n. the harsh, demanding, or unpleasant conditions of a particular environment or lifestyle.
“The soldiers were trained to survive the rigors of the desert.”
“Few explorers were prepared for the physical rigors of the expedition across the frozen tundra.”
03medical chill
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Medicine Technical
n. a sudden feeling of cold with shivering and a high temperature.
n. a sudden attack of shivering and a feeling of coldness, typically accompanied by a rapid rise in body temperature.
“The patient suffered a severe rigor shortly after the surgery.”
“The onset of a high fever was preceded by a violent rigor that lasted for nearly twenty minutes.”
Usage
Often paired with 'academic', 'scientific', or 'intellectual'.
Pitfall
the rigors of the exam
the rigor of the exam
In the sense of 'thoroughness', the word is usually uncountable; the plural 'rigors' typically refers to harsh conditions or hardships.
Real-World Examples
“Co-author Talal Aladaileh said that the project's evolution from a classroom exercise into a published paper reflects the rigor, depth, and quality of the School of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering program at Binghamton.” “At some point, a person becomes too famous to submit to the rigours of a weekly magazine show.” Etymology
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.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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