boor

A boor is a person who behaves in a crude, uncultured, or disrespectful manner, especially in social situations. The term emphasizes a lack of civility and tact rather than a failure of intellect. A boor may speak or act in a way that disregards customary manners, boundaries, or consideration for others.

Etymology and usage have shifted over time. The word derives from Dutch boer, meaning farmer or peasant, and entered English with the sense of a rustic person. By the early modern period, the term broadened beyond rural status to describe someone who displays uncouth or ill-mannered behavior. The related adjective boorish and noun boor are common in contemporary usage.

Usage and nuances. Boor is a direct pejorative about behavior and is typically applied to specific actions or patterns—such as loud talk, rudeness at meals, or a lack of tact in social discourse—rather than to a person’s overall worth. In practice, it is often interchangeable with terms like lout or vulgar person, though each carries slightly different connotations. Boorishness stresses conduct, while calling someone a boor highlights perceived social obliviousness or insensitivity to others’ feelings.