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inflexibility
/ɪnˌflɛksəˈbɪləti/
rigidity
The company's inflexibility in adapting to new market trends led to its decline.
The company's inability to change with new trends caused its failure.
formal
the quality of being rigid or unwilling to change
The manager's inflexibility in enforcing outdated policies frustrated the team.
The manager's refusal to update old rules upset the employees.
The inflexibility of the legal system makes it slow to adapt to modern needs.
The legal system's resistance to change limits its responsiveness.
Often used to describe systems, policies, or people who resist change.
Collocations
inflexibility ofused to describe what is resistant to changeshow inflexibilityto demonstrate a lack of adaptability
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoiding inflexibility
Use phrases like 'open to feedback' or 'adaptable' to describe positive traits in professional settings.
Gold Rule
Context matters
Inflexibility is typically negative in modern usage, but in certain technical contexts (e.g., materials science), it may describe desirable properties like structural rigidity.
Word Origin
From Latin *inflexibilitas*, meaning 'incapacity to bend,' combining *in-* (not) + *flexibilis* (flexible). First recorded in English in the late 16th century.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in formal contexts, such as business, law, or organizational settings. Often carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of progress or innovation.
Word Breakdown
in-
not
prefixflexibil-
able to bend
root-ity
state or quality of
suffixEnglish Dictionary