Law or lore?
law is a noun meaning “The body of binding rules and regulations, customs, and standards established…”; lore is a noun meaning “All the facts and traditions about a particular subject that have been…”. They sound the same (/lɔː/). In written English (wordfreq, 2021 data) law is about 81 times as common as lore.
What is the difference between law and lore?
| law | lore | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | noun, verb, interjection | noun |
| Meaning | The body of binding rules and regulations, customs, and standards established in a community by its legislative and judicial authorities The body of such rules that pertain to a particular topic To prosecute or sue (someone), to litigate | All the facts and traditions about a particular subject that have been accumulated over time through education or experience The region between the eyes and nostrils of birds, reptiles, and amphibians The anterior portion of the cheeks of insects |
| Example | The courts interpret the law but should not make it | the recondite lore of the Ancient Egyptians |
| Forms | laws | lores |
| Pronunciation | /lɔː/ /laː/ /loː/ | /lɔː/ /loɹ/ /lo(ː)ɹ/ |
| In writing | 288 times per million words | 3.5 times per million words |
Sources: law and lore in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of law and lore
law
- 1
The body of binding rules and regulations, customs, and standards established in a community by its legislative and judicial authorities
The courts interpret the law but should not make it
- 2
To prosecute or sue (someone), to litigate
Your husband's … so given to lawing, they say. I doubt he'll leave you poorly off when he dies
- 3
datedAn exclamation of mild surprise; lawks; in interjections, a minced oath for Lord
‘Do tell me once for all, whether you intend to marry Mr Watts or not?’ ‘Law Mama, how can I tell you what I don't know myself?’
- 4
Acronym of light anti-tank weapon
- 5
The body of such rules that pertain to a particular topic
property law
- 6
informalTo enforce the law
- 7
Common law, as contrasted with equity
- 8
To subject to legal restrictions
lore
- 1
All the facts and traditions about a particular subject that have been accumulated over time through education or experience
the recondite lore of the Ancient Egyptians
- 2
The region between the eyes and nostrils of birds, reptiles, and amphibians
- 3
slangThe backstory, especially for a character or setting, created around a fictional universe
Lore documents reveal that she was backstabbed by her subordinate, who wanted to become king, and she feels vengeful about it
- 4
The anterior portion of the cheeks of insects
- 5
slangTrivia shared by a person about themselves
It's Ashot lore that I used to have a priv where I posted pictures of weird animals I found on the street
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, law or lore?
law appears 288 times per million words; lore 3.5 times per million words.
law 288 times per million wordslore 3.5 times per million words
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).