frigid

American  

[frij-id] / ˈfrɪdʒ ɪd /

adjective

1. very cold in temperature.

   a frigid climate.

2. without warmth of feeling; without ardor or enthusiasm.

   a frigid reaction to the suggested law.

3. stiff or formal.

   a welcome that was polite but frigid.

   Synonyms:

   cool, chilly, frosty, distant, standoffish, aloof

4. (of a woman)

   1. inhibited in the ability to experience sexual excitement during sexual activity.

   2. unresponsive to sexual advances or stimuli.

5. unemotional or unimaginative; lacking passion, sympathy, or sensitivity.

   a correct, but frigid presentation.

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frigid British  

/ ˈfrɪdʒɪd /

adjective

1. formal or stiff in behaviour or temperament; lacking in affection or warmth

2. 1. lacking sexual responsiveness

   2. averse to sexual intercourse or unable to achieve orgasm during intercourse

3. characterized by physical coldness

   a frigid zone

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Other Word Forms

• frigidity noun
• frigidly adverb
• frigidness noun
• nonfrigid adjective
• nonfrigidly adverb
• nonfrigidness noun
• unfrigid adjective
• unfrigidly adverb
• unfrigidness noun

Etymology

Origin of frigid

1590–1600; < Latin frīgidus, equivalent to frīg ( us ) coldness (akin to Greek rhîgos; 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.

Example Sentences

Athena ended up in a frigid crater and tipped over, leaving its solar batteries unable to charge.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

The average winter gas bill for New York City’s National Grid utility customers jumped 25% this year because demand and prices for natural gas soared amid frigid weather.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Now the Red Planet is frigid, dry, and surrounded by only a thin layer of air.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

Asked to observe a newborn chick, she stood in the frigid winter air and watched the eaglet through a scope as it grew and eventually took flight.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

That was the year all our parents’ warnings about thin ice and frigid water became true.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• chilly
• freezing
• frosty
• frozen
• glacial
• ice-cold
• icy
• wintry