rigamarole: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal
Quick answer
What does “rigamarole” mean?
A long, complicated, and tedious procedure or story.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long, complicated, and tedious procedure or story.
A series of unnecessarily complex and time-consuming formalities or bureaucratic steps; a convoluted and often frustrating process. Can also refer to a rambling, incoherent, or nonsensical tale.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The primary spelling in British English is 'rigmarole'. 'Rigamarole' is a common variant in American English, though 'rigmarole' is also used.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. The word is perceived as slightly old-fashioned or quaint.
Frequency
Rare in formal contexts in both varieties. Slightly more common in American informal speech and writing.
Grammar
How to Use “rigamarole” in a Sentence
go through [the] rigamarole (of doing something)subjected to [the/a] rigamaroleall this/that rigamaroleVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to express frustration with excessive corporate or administrative bureaucracy, e.g., 'We had to go through a whole rigamarole to get the budget approved.'
Academic
Rare. Might be used informally to describe complex application processes or peer-review formalities.
Everyday
The most common context. Used to complain about convoluted procedures in daily life (e.g., at the DMV, setting up accounts, returns).
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rigamarole”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “rigamarole”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rigamarole”
- Misspelling: 'rigamorale', 'rigamaroll'.
- Using it to describe something simply long but not unnecessarily complex.
- Using it in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are accepted. 'Rigmarole' is the original and more common spelling, especially in British English. 'Rigamarole' is a common phonetic variant, particularly in American English.
No, the word refers to the process or the speech itself, not the person. You might say 'He spouted a lot of rigamarole,' but not 'He is a rigamarole.'
It comes from 'ragman roll', a medieval game or document with a long list. Over time, it came to mean a long, rambling discourse or a complicated procedure.
No, it is informal and carries a negative, often humorous or exasperated tone. It is best used in speech or informal writing.
A long, complicated, and tedious procedure or story.
Rigamarole: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɪɡ.ə.mə.rəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɪɡ.ə.mə.roʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The whole (nine yards of) rigamarole: The entire tedious process.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a RIGid, MARble statue stuck in a hOLE. Getting it out requires a long, complicated, and silly RIGAMAROLE of ropes, pulleys, and paperwork.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROCEDURES ARE CONVOLUTED JOURNEYS / WORDS ARE TANGLED THREADS (from its etymology).
Practice
Quiz
In which situation is the word 'rigamarole' LEAST appropriate?