vigor
VIG-uhr
Vigor (noun) means Physical strength, energy and good health. Example: “At eighty he still had the vigor of a much younger man.”
noun
1
Physical strength, energy and good health.
"At eighty he still had the vigor of a much younger man."
"She attacked the garden with surprising vigor."
2
Force, intensity or determination in the way something is done or expressed.
"The proposal was defended with real vigor at the hearing."
3
technical In biology and agriculture, healthy and strong growth in a plant or organism.
"Hybrid vigor makes the crossbred seed noticeably more productive."
How to use vigor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishStrength and energy.
When to use it
Slightly formal or literary; in casual speech 'energy' is far more common.
Memory tip
Do not confuse it with 'rigor', which means strictness or thoroughness. A study can be conducted with rigor and pursued with vigor.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
youthful vigor
with renewed vigor
hybrid vigor
vim and vigor
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At eighty he still had the _____ of a much younger man.
Etymology
From Latin vigor 'liveliness, activity', from vigere 'to be lively or flourish'.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for vigor
See all rhymes for vigor →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between vigor and vigour?
None in meaning. 'Vigor' is the American spelling and 'vigour' the British and Commonwealth one, following the same pattern as color and colour. Both derive from the same Latin word, which had no u.
Why is the adjective 'vigorous' spelled without a u even in British English?
Because the u in 'vigour' comes from the Old French spelling of the noun, while adjectives formed with -ous were built on the Latin stem. The same happens with humour and humorous, glamour and glamorous.
What does hybrid vigor mean?
It is the tendency of the offspring of two different inbred lines to be larger, healthier or more productive than either parent. Plant breeders exploit it heavily in crops such as maize, and it is also called heterosis.
What is the meaning of vigor?
"vigor" (noun) means physical strength, energy and good health.
