ossified

[os-uh-fahyd]

adjective

1. hardened like or into bone.

2. Slang.,  drunk.

ossified

/ ˈɒsɪˌfaɪd /

adjective

1. converted into bone

2. having become set and inflexible

3. slang,  intoxicated; drunk

Other Word Forms

• unossified adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ossified¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; ossify + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Palestinian politics has ossified in the meantime, leaving most Palestinians cynical about their leadership and pessimistic about the chances of any kind of internal reconciliation, let alone progress towards statehood.

From BBC

Sheinbaum and her allies call the shake-up a necessary makeover of an ossified system riven with corruption and nepotism.

From Los Angeles Times

The proposed cleanup and redevelopment of this ossified power plant joins a growing collection of such projects across the nation.

From New York Times

Nor can you, apparently, be a successful, divorced, outspoken biracial American career woman and thrive among the hierarchically ossified, stiff-upper-lip royal family.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s an ossified bastion of stodgy old engineers,” he said.

From Seattle Times