TKG English Learner's Dictionary

or

orconjunction

American /ɔr/ British /ɔː/ In ordinary speech or is usually unstressed and weak, close to ər. The strong form is used when it is stressed.
very commondefining vocabulary

Or joins two or more things and shows that they are other possibilities, choices, or names for the same thing.

  1. choiceused between two or more possibilities or choices

    In a list of more than two, or usually comes only before the last item. In a question, or can offer a choice (tea or coffee?, answered by choosing one) or ask about both together (answered yes or no).

    Compare and (and includes all the things; or offers one of them); nor

    1. aused between two numbers to show that the amount is not exact

      Or so after an amount means about that amount.

      • There were five or six people in the room.
      • The trip takes an hour or two.
      • Wait a minute or so, then try again.

  2. otherwiseused to say what will happen if something is not done

    The first part is often an order or a piece of advice; the part after or gives the result of not following it. Or else is a stronger form.

    Synonyms otherwise

  3. after a negativeand not; and also not

    After a negative word such as not, never, or without, English uses or, not and, to add another thing that the negative also applies to.

    For translators (sense 3)

    Grammar trap After a negative, English joins the things with or: I don't like tea or coffee. With and, the sentence can mean only that the speaker does not like the two together.

  4. another nameused to give another name for something, or to explain a word

    The part after or says the same thing in other words; it is usually set off with commas.

    • Ravi is a pediatrician, or a children's doctor.
    • The recipe needs scallions, or green onions.
    • I work in human resources, or HR.

Common mistakes

I don't like tea and coffee. I don't like tea or coffee.
With and, the sentence means only that the speaker does not like the two together. To mean not this and not that, use or after the negative.
The food is good here, or? The food is good here, isn't it?
English does not use or as a question tag at the end of a statement; use a tag such as isn't it? or right?

See also either (to show that there are only two choices (either tea or coffee)); nor