rigmarole: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Informal, slightly pejorative
Quick answer
What does “rigmarole” mean?
A long, complicated, and tedious procedure or story, often involving unnecessary bureaucracy or fuss.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long, complicated, and tedious procedure or story, often involving unnecessary bureaucracy or fuss.
Used to describe any unnecessarily elaborate and time-consuming process, or a long, rambling, and disconnected narrative.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in British English, but well-understood and used in American English.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries strong connotations of annoyance and pointlessness.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English; in US English, 'red tape' or 'runaround' might be more frequent in similar bureaucratic contexts, but 'rigmarole' is still standard.
Grammar
How to Use “rigmarole” in a Sentence
go through the rigmarole of (doing) somethingIt's such a rigmarole.without all the rigmaroleVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rigmarole” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Rare/archaic) He would rigmarole on for hours about his stamp collection.
American English
- (Rare/archaic) She rigmaroled through the entire saga of her travel mishaps.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Complaining about the rigmarole of expense reports or compliance checks.
Academic
Rare; might describe the convoluted process of ethics approval for research.
Everyday
Describing the process of getting a visa, returning a faulty item, or setting up a new phone.
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts; prefers neutral terms like 'protocol' or 'procedure'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rigmarole”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “rigmarole”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rigmarole”
- Misspelling: 'rigamarole', 'rigamorole'.
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'a rigmarole process' – incorrect; use 'convoluted' or 'complicated' instead).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and carries a negative, critical tone. In formal writing, use terms like 'convoluted procedure' or 'lengthy formalities'.
It comes from 'ragman roll', a medieval document with a long list of names, which later referred to any long, rambling discourse.
Yes, though less common today. It can describe a long, confused, and meaningless story or tale.
The standard spelling is 'rigmarole'. 'Rigamarole' is a common variant, especially in American English, but 'rigmarole' is preferred in dictionaries.
A long, complicated, and tedious procedure or story, often involving unnecessary bureaucracy or fuss.
Rigmarole: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɪɡ.mə.rəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɪɡ.mə.roʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The whole (bloody) rigmarole”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a RIGid, MAritime ROLE where a sailor has to follow a ridiculously long and unnecessary list of rules just to swab the deck.
Conceptual Metaphor
A JOURNEY THROUGH A MAZE (a pointless, winding path with no clear exit).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'rigmarole' LEAST appropriate?