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rigueur

rigour, strictness

noun ree-GEHR Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Quality

Origin: Latin rigor (stiffness)

Also means

severity, harshness

Usage Note

Rigueur describes intellectual precision, moral strictness, or harsh conditions. The phrase de rigueur has been borrowed into English to mean 'required by etiquette'. À la rigueur means 'at a stretch' or 'if need be', a useful conversational phrase. The adjective rigoureux/rigoureuse means rigorous or severe.

Examples

"Ce travail exige une grande rigueur."

Natural Translation

This work requires great rigour.

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