DictionaryInternet culture

Lore

Definition

The history, background, or collection of stories associated with a person, character, group, or fictional world.

Example
Finding out that he once competed in gymnastics added unexpected lore.
How it is used

Lore may refer to the official history of a fictional universe or jokingly describe personal experiences and background information. Unexpected facts about a friend, creator, celebrity, or online personality are often called lore.

Origin and context

Lore has long meant traditional knowledge, teaching, or a body of information. It became especially common for the history and rules of fictional worlds in games, books, and fandoms, and internet users later extended it to people's personal backstories.

Common variations

lore drop

The sudden revelation of new background information or a previously unknown personal story.

lore dump

A large amount of background information shared all at once.

personal lore

The experiences, relationships, interests, and stories that make up someone's personal history.

Frequently asked questions
What does lore mean in slang?

Lore means the history or backstory of a person, character, community, or fictional world.

What is a lore drop?

A lore drop is the revelation of new or surprising background information.

Can a real person have lore?

Yes. Internet users commonly call someone's personal history, unusual experiences, and previously unknown stories their lore.

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