lore

/lɔr/
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Knowledge and stories preserved by a group, or background that gives meaning to a fictional world or a person.

Examples

  • Hidden notes reveal more of the island’s lore.
  • Calling it her “villain lore” made the painful story sound playful.
  • The poem praises ancient lore and patient study.
  • In the old tale, the child was sent away to learn lore.
  • He revealed some family lore during the livestream.

Similar words

tradition
learning
mythos
knowledge
knowledge
backstory reveal
worldbuilding
history
inside story
wisdom

Meanings

Shared traditional knowledge

noun
culture
neutral
Knowledge, beliefs, and stories kept and passed on by a community or by people experienced in a subject.

Examples

  • Local lore says the stones were placed by giants.
  • She learned the lore of desert plants from her grandmother.
  • The old sailors shared their lore with the new crew.
  • Does the village lore mention this ruined tower?
  • Much of the region’s lore was preserved through songs.

Similar words

Fictional world and backstory

noun
entertainment
neutral
The established history, rules, characters, and background details of a fictional world.

Examples

  • The game’s lore explains why the capital was abandoned.
  • I enjoy the series, but I cannot remember all its lore.
  • Fans argued about whether the new ending fits the lore.
  • You do not need to know the lore before watching the film.
  • Hidden notes reveal more of the island’s lore.

Similar words

Personal backstory

noun
social media
informal
Someone’s past experiences or private history, especially details shared online that explain who they are now.

Examples

  • That childhood photo adds a surprising chapter to her lore.
  • Wait, what is the lore behind your old nickname?
  • He revealed some family lore during the livestream.
  • I missed a week of posts and now there is new office lore.
  • Calling it her “villain lore” made the painful story sound playful.

Similar words

Learning or instruction

noun
education
archaic
Knowledge, teaching, or a lesson, in an old use now mainly found in historical writing and compounds.

Examples

  • The poem praises ancient lore and patient study.
  • In the old tale, the child was sent away to learn lore.
  • The scholar gathered lore from many books.
  • Few modern writers use lore to mean formal teaching.
  • The manuscript treats moral lore as a guide to life.

Similar words

Etymology

From Old English lār, meaning teaching or knowledge and related to learn.

FAQ

What does lore mean?

It can mean a group’s traditional knowledge, the background of a fictional world, or informally someone’s personal backstory.

What does lore mean in a video game?

It is the established history, rules, and background details of the game’s world.

What does lore mean on social media?

Informally, it means the past or private history that helps explain a person or situation.

Are lore and canon the same?

Not exactly. Canon is what is officially accepted in a fictional world, while lore is its wider established background.

Where does lore come from?

It comes from Old English lār, meaning teaching or knowledge, and is related to learn.

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