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rigid
/ˈrɪdʒɪd/
not flexible
The company has rigid rules about working hours.
The company enforces strict and unchangeable rules about working hours.
general
stiff and not able to bend or move easily
The metal bar was too rigid to bend by hand.
The metal bar could not be bent without special tools.
Describes physical objects or systems that resist deformation.
general
unable or unwilling to change or adapt
His rigid thinking made it hard to accept new ideas.
He refused to change his opinions despite new information.
Often describes attitudes, rules, or structures that are inflexible.
Collocations
rigid structurea system or object that cannot bendrigid rulesstrict and unchangeable regulationsrigid schedulea fixed timetable with no flexibility
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'rigorous'
'Rigid' describes stiffness or inflexibility, while 'rigorous' means thorough and careful. Example: 'rigid schedule' (fixed) vs. 'rigorous training' (thorough).
Gold Rule
Use 'rigid' for physical objects
When describing materials or objects that cannot bend, use 'rigid'. Example: 'The rigid pole did not bend in the wind.'
Use 'rigid' for abstract concepts
When describing attitudes, rules, or systems that are inflexible, use 'rigid'. Example: 'The school has rigid policies about uniforms.'
Word Origin
From Latin 'rigidus', meaning 'stiff, hard', derived from 'rigere' (to be stiff). Entered English in the late 16th century.
Usage Notes
Describes both physical properties and abstract concepts like attitudes or policies. Often carries a negative connotation when referring to people or systems.
Word Breakdown
rig-
stiff or hard
root-id
adjective-forming suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary