frigidity

[ fri-jid-i-tee ]

noun

1. the state or condition of being frigid.
2. (in women) inhibition, not caused by a physical disorder or medication, of sexual excitement during sexual activity.

Other Words From

• nonfri·gidi·ty noun
• unfri·gidi·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of frigidity¹

1400–50; late Middle English frigidite coldness (< Middle French fregidité ) < Late Latin frīgiditās; frigid, -ity

Example Sentences

"The help of such specialists is necessary if a person wants to recover from frigidity, impotence, or such violations of sexual behaviour as fetishism, masochism and sadism," the official newspaper of Russia's parliament said.

From Reuters

She set up a private practice and specialized in treating women afflicted with what she would call one of the “gravest problems of our time”: sexual frigidity.

From Scientific American

What she would later call one of the “gravest problems of our times”? Carol, it was sexual frigidity, of course.

From Scientific American

Sexual frigidity is “the inability to enjoy physical love to the limits of its potentiality.”

From Scientific American

And she thought frigidity came from problems in childhood like having an absent father, or worse, a feminist mother.

From Scientific American