rigid
UK: ˈrɪdʒɪd | US: ˈrɪdʒɪd
adj. stiff, not flexible; unable to bend or be forced out of shape
adj. strict, inflexible in rules or standards
adj. (of a person or behavior) not adaptable; uncompromising
The word "rigid" traces back to the Latin rigidus, derived from rigēre ("to be stiff"). The root rig- conveys stiffness or inflexibility, both physically and metaphorically. Over time, the term expanded from describing physical hardness (e.g., rigid metal) to abstract strictness (e.g., rigid rules). The suffix -id solidifies its adjectival form, a pattern seen in other Latin-derived words like "fluid" or "solid."
The rigid steel beam supported the weight of the bridge.
Her rigid adherence to the schedule left no room for spontaneity.
The teacher’s rigid grading system frustrated creative students.
Cold temperatures made the plastic surprisingly rigid.
His rigid posture hinted at his military background.