English Reference
Noun

vigor

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US /ˈvɪɡɝ/ vig·or UK spelling vigors, vigour Biology

n.physical or mental strength and energy. You use this to describe someone who works or acts with a lot of power and focus.

n.physical strength and good health; the capacity for survival or continued growth in a biological or social context. Often associated with robustness and active force.


SIMPLE

She started her new job with great vigor.

CONTEXTUAL

The plants grew with surprising vigor after the gardener added the new fertilizer to the soil.

COMPLEX

The committee debated the proposed reforms with renewed vigor, determined to reach a consensus before the legislative session concluded at the end of the month.

Usage

Commonly follows the preposition 'with'. In British English, the word is spelled 'vigour'.

The semi-fictional tale is about Maddie’s befriending of the 87-year-old Darcy O’Shea, an artist and piano teacher 50 years her senior, who is full of zest and vigour.

The Guardian· 24 Aug 2026

The performances are pointed and everyone tells their strange or silly tales with vigour, so that storytelling itself becomes a reason for continued existence.

The Guardian· 15 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated