rigor mortis

noun

rig·​or mor·​tis ˌri-gər-ˈmȯr-təs 

 also chiefly British  ˌrī-ˌgȯ-ˈmȯ-təs

: temporary rigidity of muscles occurring after death

Did you know?

Rigor mortis, which translates from Latin as "stiffness of death", sets in quickly and usually ends three or four days after death. The condition results from a lack of certain chemicals in the muscles; it may be affected by muscular activity before death as well as the external temperature. Mystery writers frequently make use of rigor mortis as a means by which the detective or the examiner can determine the time of the victim's death, which often turns out to be all-important in solving the case.

Examples of rigor mortis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The jiangshi were corpses suffering from rigor mortis and decomposition, reanimated when a soul couldn’t leave after a violent death. —Tom Duszynski, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025

Then the spiral cord is disrupted to prevent rigor mortis and the blood is completely removed. —Akiko Katayama, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025

The paramedic also noticed rigor mortis was present in their lower limbs. —Latoya Gayle, People.com, 30 June 2025

An Ormond Beach police officer arrived at the home at 2:49 p.m. and reported being unable to perform CPR due to the boy being in rigor mortis, Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood said during the news conference. —Mark Price, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, stiffness of death

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rigor mortis

• abortus
• fortis
• tortoise

Kids Definition

rigor mortis

noun

rig·​or mor·​tis ˌrig-ər-ˈmȯrt-əs 

: temporary stiffness of muscles occurring after death

Etymology

from scientific Latin, literally "stiffness of death," from Latin rigēre "to be stiff" — related to rigid

Medical Definition

rigor mortis

noun

rig·​or mor·​tis

ˌrig-ər-ˈmȯrt-əs also chiefly British ˌrī-ˌgȯ(ə)r-

: temporary rigidity of muscles occurring after death