de rigueur

English

Etymology

Borrowing from French de rigueur (“required”), from de (“of”) + rigueur (“rigour/rigor”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /də ɹɪˈɡɜː(ɹ)/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Adjective

de rigueur (comparative more de rigueur, superlative most de rigueur)

1. Necessary according to etiquette, protocol or fashion.

   Wearing a suit to a job interview is de rigueur.

   This season, the little black dress is de rigueur.

   • For usage examples of this term, see Citations:de rigueur.

Usage notes

• Spelling: there is a u immediately after the g as well as after the e.
• As this is a borrowed foreign phrase, it is often italicised (as de rigueur).

Translations

necessary according to etiquette

• French: de rigueur (fr)

---

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /də ʁi.ɡœʁ/

Adjective

de rigueur (invariable)

1. absolutely necessary