Mordor
Mordor (noun) means (informal) A place seen as bleak, dangerous, or full of hardship — used allusively. Example: “Working in that basement office felt like being sent to Mordor.”
How to use Mordor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA name from The Lord of the Rings used informally to describe anywhere bleak or menacing.
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Working in that basement office felt like being sent to _____.
Etymology
From Mordor, the dark, dangerous realm ruled by Sauron in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth stories. Tolkien built the name in his invented Sindarin language from words meaning "dark" and "land."
Frequently asked questions
What does “Mordor” mean?
The word “Mordor” means (informal) A place seen as bleak, dangerous, or full of hardship — used allusively. In plain terms, a name from The Lord of the Rings used informally to describe anywhere bleak or menacing.
How do you pronounce “Mordor”?
“Mordor” is pronounced MAW-daw (/ˈmɔɹdɔɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Mordor” in a sentence?
Here is “Mordor” used in a sentence: “Working in that basement office felt like being sent to Mordor.”
What part of speech is “Mordor”?
“Mordor” is a noun.