frigidity

noun

fri·​gid·​i·​ty fri-ˈji-də-tē How to pronounce frigidity (audio)
: the quality or state of being frigid
specifically : marked or abnormal sexual indifference especially in a woman

Examples of frigidity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Still cold and a bit blustery tomorrow, just not quite on par with today’s frigidity. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2024 Yet the effect is of the gentle quiet of snowfall, rather than the lethal frigidity of an icicle. Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Feb. 2022 The Scarborough, Canada native blames his hometown for his frigidity and relishes in his selfish desires, putting himself ahead of a woman who loves him and pushing himself past his contemporaries to come out as one of the top pop stars of his generation. Heran Mamo, Billboard, 7 Jan. 2022 So much passion and excitement and intensity and perverse directness and also extreme frigidity and passivity. Emma Madden, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2022 As a point of contrast the ecology of Ethiopia differs a great deal from the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa because of its elevation, and concomitant frigidity. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 22 July 2010 But despite having arrived at the inner suburbs of the coming season, Friday offered few clues to the days of frost and frigidity that experience and meteorology have located in our not-far-off future. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 17 Dec. 2022 The same phenomenon may be causing abnormal spells of extreme heat and blasts of polar frigidity, because the jet stream winds that normally break up weather patterns and drive storm systems are weaker. Scott Dance and Kasha Patel, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Sep. 2022 By the final pages, the novel’s full store of frigidity seems to have spilled from one tap. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 8 Feb. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frigidity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frigidity was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near frigidity

Cite this Entry

“Frigidity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frigidity. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

frigidity

noun
fri·​gid·​i·​ty frij-ˈid-ət-ē How to pronounce frigidity (audio)
plural frigidities
: marked or abnormal sexual indifference especially in a woman
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