de rigueur

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /də ɹɪˈɡɜː(ɹ)/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /də ɹɪˈɡɝ/
• Hyphenation: de ri‧gueur
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)

• Audio (RP)

  (file)

• Audio (GA)

  (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 quotations of use of this term, see Citations:de rigueur.

Usage notes

• As this is a borrowed foreign phrase, it is often italicised (as de rigueur).

Translations

necessary according to etiquette

• French: de rigueur (fr)

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French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /də ʁi.ɡœʁ/

Adjective

de rigueur (invariable)

1. absolutely necessary