rigidity

noun

ri·​gid·​i·​ty rə-ˈji-də-tē 

plural rigidities

1

: the quality or state of being rigid

2

: one that is rigid (as in form or conduct)

Synonyms

• exactingness
• hardness
• harshness
• inflexibility
• rigidness
• rigor
• rigorousness
• severity
• sternness
• strictness
• stringency

Examples of rigidity in a Sentence

sometimes the rigidity of the headmaster's discipline was deemed excessive by even much of the faculty

Recent Examples on the Web

This is clear in the contrast between the death mask that was shown to the public after her assassination, a softened, youthful version, and her real death mask, which shows the facial rigidity of a 60-year-old woman. —Elizabeth Djinis, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025

Until Origin started working on the problem, no one made bottle caps from PET because of its rigidity. —Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

People complained about the approach, its rigidity, its predictability, its functionality. —Jack Pitt-Brooke, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025

That property means more energy storage tends to come at the price of more rigidity. —Saul Elbein, The Hill, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rigidity

• acidity
• aridity
• avidity
• cupidity
• fluidity
• humidity
• liquidity
• lucidity
• morbidity
• placidity
• rancidity
• rapidity

Medical Definition

rigidity

noun

ri·​gid·​i·​ty rə-ˈjid-ət-ē 

plural rigidities

: the quality or state of being rigid: as

a

: abnormal stiffness of muscle

muscle rigidity symptomatic of Parkinson's disease

—Diane Gershon

b

: emotional inflexibility and resistance to change