Word of the Day: De Rigeur

 

adjective 1. Required by etiquette or current fashion.

"It's de rigueur to wear a dinner jacket at this restaurant, but my husband thinks he'll get away with a shirt and tie." "In the 1970s, bell bottoms and sequins were de rigueur for the disco." "When traveling to a foreign country, ask what's de rigueur for tipping before you arrive."

French, mid-19th century

In the late 19th century, French culture was seen as the height of sophistication, and it was de rigueur to adopt French terms into English, wear Parisian fashion, and look to France for cues in art, food, and literature. "De rigueur" has remained in English, meaning "required by etiquette or current fashion."