lore

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The backstory, especially for a character or setting, created around a fictional universe.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Lore documents reveal that she was backstabbed by her subordinate, who wanted to become king, and she feels vengeful about it.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

The backstory, especially for a character or setting, created around a fictional universe. — Trivia shared by a person about themselves.

Register: Internet, slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “lore” mean?

The backstory, especially for a character or setting, created around a fictional universe.

Is “lore” formal or informal?

lore is generally slang.