French word

rigueur

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁigœʁ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounrigor

Example

Il faut de la rigueur pour réussir.

It takes rigor to succeed.

Illustration for rigueur (rigor)

More examples

Le directeur exige de la rigueur dans les procédures.

The director demands rigor in the procedures.

Core concept

A careful hand applying a rule exactly, with no skipped detail or casual exception.

Common phrases

  • faire preuve de rigueur

    show rigor

  • manquer de rigueur

    lack rigor

  • exiger de la rigueur

    demand rigor

Similar words

discipline: Training and self-control that preserve order.
exigence: High demands for achievement and accuracy.
sérieux: A serious approach to handling matters.
sévérité: A tendency to punish or judge harshly.

Definition in French

Attitude ou caractère marqué par la fermeté dans l'application des règles, par la précision et le sérieux.

Word origin

French rigueur comes from Latin rigor, meaning stiffness or hardness, whose figurative sense developed toward strictness and exactness in French.

Usage tips

  • Rigueur is feminine: la rigueur, and the common phrase avec rigueur means that something is done strictly and precisely.

Other meanings

  • strictnessnoun
  • precisionnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word