dolor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C1/C2)Formal, Literary, Archaic, Medical (specialized Latin usage)
Quick answer
What does “dolor” mean?
A feeling of deep distress, sorrow, or suffering.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A feeling of deep distress, sorrow, or suffering; often with a sense of mental or emotional anguish.
Used in formal or literary contexts to describe profound sorrow, grief, or heartache. In Spanish, it means physical pain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. It is equally rare and literary in both varieties.
Connotations
In both, it evokes a formal, old-fashioned, or high-register tone.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general use. More likely encountered in older literature, poetry, or specific contexts (e.g., 'dolorimetry' in medicine).
Grammar
How to Use “dolor” in a Sentence
to be filled with dolorto express one's dolora dolor (that) + clauseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dolor” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- dolorously
American English
- dolorously
adjective
British English
- dolorous (the more common adjective form)
American English
- dolorous (the more common adjective form)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare; may appear in literary analysis, historical texts, or philosophy discussing emotions.
Everyday
Extremely rare and would sound affected or archaic.
Technical
In medicine, 'dolor' is one of the four classic signs of inflammation (along with calor, rubor, tumor).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dolor”
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dolor”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dolor”
- Using it in casual conversation.
- Confusing it with 'dollar'.
- Using it to mean mild sadness.
- Incorrect pluralisation ('dolors' is correct but rare).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. 'Dolor' is the American English spelling, and 'dolour' is the British English spelling, though both are extremely rare.
In modern English, it almost exclusively refers to emotional or mental suffering. The physical pain meaning is archaic or reserved for specific medical Latin (as in 'dolor, calor, rubor, tumor').
'Dolorous', meaning 'feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress'.
No. It is a C2-level, passive/receptive vocabulary item. You should recognise it in literature but use more common synonyms like 'sorrow' or 'grief' in your own speech and writing.
A feeling of deep distress, sorrow, or suffering.
Dolor is usually formal, literary, archaic, medical (specialized latin usage) in register.
Dolor: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɒl.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdoʊ.lər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “vale of dolor (poetic/literary, from 'vale of tears')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the Latin word 'DOLOR' etched on a tombstone – it carries the weight of lasting, dignified sorrow.
Conceptual Metaphor
SORROW IS A BURDEN (to bear one's dolor); SORROW IS A LIQUID (filled with dolor).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'dolor' MOST appropriately used?