steifer

Steifer is a German term that functions primarily as the comparative form of the adjective steif, meaning stiff, rigid, or not flexible. It is used to describe things that are more stiff than a reference point, such as materials, winds, fabrics, or even behavior when a higher degree of stiffness is implied.

In German, steif means stiff or rigid, and steifer is formed by adding the comparative suffix -er. The word is typically pronounced with the initial consonant cluster, roughly like "SHTY-fuh." As an adjective, steifer agrees with the noun it describes in gender and case (for example, Der Wind ist steifer geworden; Diese Kleidung ist steifer als jene).

Steifer may also appear as a surname of German origin. As a family name, it can reflect an ancestral nickname describing a person as stiff or serious, or, less commonly, a place-based origin. The surname Steifer is found in German-speaking regions and among descendants of emigrants to other countries; it remains relatively uncommon but is attested in genealogical records.