What does galore mean?
Galore is an adjective that signals abundance: it means that something is present in large amounts or plentiful supply. Unusually among English adjectives, it is almost always placed after the noun it qualifies — 'prizes galore', 'trouble galore', 'candy galore' — rather than before it, and this postpositive placement has become part of its signature style. The word carries a lively, informal tone, evoking generosity and plenty rather than mere sufficiency, which helps explain its popularity in advertising, festive descriptions, and everyday conversation. Its origin is distinctly Irish: it derives from the Irish expression 'go leor', meaning 'enough' or 'in plenty', which entered English in the seventeenth century through contact between Irish speakers and English settlers. Few borrowed phrases have been absorbed so completely into common English use. For writers seeking a vivid, upbeat way to convey that there is more than enough of something, galore remains a compact and memorable choice.
adjectiveIn abundant supply; present in large quantities. It is almost always used postpositively — placed after the noun it modifies, as in 'bargains galore' rather than 'galore bargains'.
- In great abundance; available or existing in large quantities (used attributively after a noun).
"The festival offered food, music, and entertainment galore."
"There were samples galore at the grand opening of the new market."
"The estate sale had antiques galore, drawing collectors from across the county."
'Galore' comes straight from the Irish phrase 'go leor' — meaning 'enough' or 'in plenty' — making it one of the most successful Irish borrowings in the English language.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of galore
Galore originates from Irish, deriving from the phrase 'go leor', which means 'enough' or 'to sufficiency'. It entered English during the period of sustained contact between Irish speakers and English speakers, becoming established by the early seventeenth century. From Ireland it passed into Scottish Gaelic as well, where the equivalent form contributed to its spread in Scotland, before settling firmly into general English usage as a marker of abundance.
How galore is actually used
Galore is overwhelmingly used postpositively — following the noun it describes — and placing it before the noun is widely considered awkward or incorrect. The word carries a cheerful, informal connotation of generous abundance and appears far more often in casual speech, advertising, and journalism than in formal writing.