rigid

[ rij-id ]

adjective

1. stiff or unyielding; not pliant or flexible; hard:

   a rigid strip of metal.

   Synonyms: inflexible, firm, unbending

   Antonyms: elastic

2. firmly fixed or set.

   Synonyms: static, immovable

3. inflexible, strict, or severe:

   a rigid disciplinarian; rigid rules of social behavior.

   Synonyms: unyielding, stern, austere

   Antonyms: lax

4. exacting; thorough; rigorous:

   a rigid examination.

   Synonyms: demanding

5. so as to meet precise standards; stringent:

   lenses ground to rigid specifications.

   Synonyms: demanding

6. Mechanics. of, relating to, or noting a body in which the distance between any pair of points remains fixed under all forces; having infinite values for its shear modulus, bulk modulus, and Young's modulus.
7. Aeronautics.
   1. (of an airship or dirigible) having a form maintained by a stiff, unyielding structure contained within the envelope.
   2. pertaining to a helicopter rotor that is held fixedly at its root.

rigid

/ ˈrɪdʒɪd /

adjective

1. not bending; physically inflexible or stiff

   a rigid piece of plastic

2. unbending; rigorously strict; severe

   rigid rules

adverb

1. completely or excessively

   the lecture bored him rigid

Derived Forms

• ˈrigidly, adverb
• riˈgidity, noun

Other Words From

• ri·gidi·ty rigid·ness noun
• rigid·ly adverb
• over·rigid adjective
• over·rigid·ly adverb
• over·rigid·ness noun
• over·ri·gidi·ty noun
• sub·rigid adjective
• sub·rigid·ly adverb
• sub·rigid·ness noun
• subri·gidi·ty noun
• un·rigid adjective
• un·rigid·ly adverb
• un·rigid·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rigid¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin rigidus, equivalent to rig(ēre) “to be stiff, stiffen” + -idus -id ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of rigid¹

C16: from Latin rigidus , from rigēre to be stiff

Synonym Study

See strict.

Example Sentences

Meter engineer, “Alan”, agrees with Octopus that the rules are too rigid.

From BBC

In the morning they found him cold and rigid.

From BBC

Baking can feel rigid compared to savory cooking, which often allows for more improvisation.

From Salon

Would I be more susceptible to the rigid and relentless stereotypes with which society brands women of a certain age?

From Los Angeles Times

She said “rigid” visiting restrictions meant that, for the next month, only one parent was allowed to visit her newborn babies at a time.

From BBC

Related Words

• adamant
• austere
• definite
• exact
• fixed
• hard-line
• harsh
• inflexible
• intransigent
• rigorous
• solid
• stern
• stringent
• uncompromising
• unyielding