frigid

Frigid is an adjective used to describe extremely cold temperatures, surfaces, or conditions. It can also describe emotional or interpersonal aloofness, or in outdated usage, lack of sexual warmth.

In meteorology and geography, frigid describes air masses, fronts, or climates characterized by low temperatures, such as frigid air from polar regions or a frigid front marking sharp temperature decline. The term is often contrasted with temperate and tropical.

Etymology: Frigid originates from the Latin frigidus meaning cold or cool, and entered English via Old French and Middle English in the medieval period. The sense has remained tied to extreme coolness.

Usage notes: Frigid can imply extreme coldness, often with a sense of severity or harshness. It may be applied to weather, wind chill, or conditions that hinder movement or comfort. Metaphorically, it describes a person’s demeanor or response as emotionally distant or unresponsive. In contemporary usage, referring to a person as frigid regarding sexuality can be pejorative and stigmatizing; more precise language is preferred.

Examples: a frigid winter night; a frigid blast of air; a frigid reception; a frigid personality.

See also: chilly, freezing, polar, cryogenic.