lore

1 of 2

noun (1)

1
: a particular body of knowledge or tradition
the lore of baseball heroes
2
: something that is learned:
a
: traditional knowledge or belief
tribal lore
b
: knowledge gained through study or experience
the lore of religious architecture
3
archaic : something that is taught : lesson

lore

2 of 2

noun (2)

: the space between the eye and bill in a bird or the corresponding region in a reptile or fish
usually used in plural
dark lores
loreal adjective

Examples of lore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Tulkarm, like many others, was mainly quiet after the second intifada, but the younger generation grew up with family lore of fathers, uncles, and brothers arrested or killed by Israeli forces. Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2024 And this fifth season has solidified them well within program lore. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 7 Mar. 2024 Plot details are being kept under the doji, but it is known that the new installment will bring the story to the East Coast and focus on a teen from China (Wang) who, as per Karate Kid lore, finds strength and direction via martial arts and a tough but wise mentor (or two). Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 Both love their hometown, pointing out landmarks like their local parish church (same as the senator Joseph McCarthy’s) and recounting local lore. Charles W. McFarlane, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 This is an escape complete with pirate lore; long stretches of pristine sands all protected by the National Park Service; a fishing village with summer pleasures like ice cream, seafood, and boat charters; and its own bright white, picturesque lighthouse. Tracey Minkin, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024 Here’s a poem for Valentine’s Day, incorporating the history of the day with its romantic lore: In ancient Rome, mid-February's day, Lupercalia's feast, where men would play. Erik Kain, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Others believed sometimes unprovable family lore about Native roots. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 And there is evidence in Florida from 12,000 years ago not only of sloths and giant tortoises being butchered for their meat but—according to butcher lore and blogs—of the existence of a formal trade and butchers’ shops. Olivia Potts, Longreads, 15 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lore.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English lār; akin to Old High German lēra doctrine, Old English leornian to learn

Noun (2)

New Latin lorum, from Latin, thong, rein; akin to Greek eulēra reins

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (2)

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lore was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near lore

Cite this Entry

“Lore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lore. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lore

noun
ˈlō(ə)r,
ˈlȯ(ə)r
: knowledge sense 1
especially : a particular body of knowledge or tradition
forest lore

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