frigid
Americanadjective
-
very cold in temperature.
a frigid climate.
-
without warmth of feeling; without ardor or enthusiasm.
a frigid reaction to the suggested law.
-
stiff or formal.
a welcome that was polite but frigid.
-
(of a woman)
-
inhibited in the ability to experience sexual excitement during sexual activity.
-
unresponsive to sexual advances or stimuli.
-
-
unemotional or unimaginative; lacking passion, sympathy, or sensitivity.
a correct, but frigid presentation.
adjective
-
formal or stiff in behaviour or temperament; lacking in affection or warmth
-
-
lacking sexual responsiveness
-
averse to sexual intercourse or unable to achieve orgasm during intercourse
-
-
characterized by physical coldness
a frigid zone
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of frigid
1590–1600; < Latin frīgidus, equivalent to frīg ( us ) coldness (akin to Greek rhîgos; see rigid) + -idus -id 4
Explanation
Like the North Pole on the coldest day of winter, frigid is an adjective that means extremely chilly. It applies to both temperatures and personalities. Frigid comes to us from the Latin frigidus, meaning “cold, chill, cool” or “indifferent.” That explains why it's used to describe both arctic weather and someone's particularly unfriendly demeanor. So the inside of your ice box is certainly frigid, but so is a stern boss who refuses to smile or say hi when you hop in the same elevator. His glare is so emotionally frosty that it freezes you in your tracks.
Vocabulary lists containing frigid
Wintry Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Blizzard! Words to Learn on a Snow Day
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
List 6
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Refugees are sleeping outdoors through sweltering days and frigid nights for fear that more buildings may collapse.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
The "Dubai Tower" left the eastern port city of Ningbo on Saturday evening heading north, where it will pass through the Bering Strait, then turn west through the frigid waters along Russia's northern coast.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
Drake’s always been a bully, throwing stones from his frigid fortress of solitude and hiding his hand in a diamond-encrusted glove he won at auction.
From Salon ● May 21, 2026
The ship itself is built to navigate frigid waters featuring hulking chunks of ice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
The weather warms enough to open the windows, then it gets frigid again, and then it rains buckets and everything turns to ice.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
