frigidity
/frɪˈdʒɪdəti/ (bre, ipa) · /frɪˈdʒɪdəti/ (ame, ipa) · /fri-ˈji-də-tē/ (ame, mw)
frigidity — noun
1. an unfriendly, distant way of treating other people that shows no warmth or kind
an unfriendly, distant way of treating other people that shows no warmth or kind feeling
Noa was hurt by the sudden frigidity of her old college friend at the reunion.
frigidity of [person] for unfriendly behaviour
The new manager greeted the team with a frigidity that made everyone nervous.
subject is a person showing cold treatment
Hamza could not understand the frigidity in his neighbour's reply when he asked for help.
There was a clear frigidity between the two diplomats during the press conference.
Ayana spoke to the rude customer with a polite frigidity that ended the argument.
- warmth
the everyday opposite — friendly, kind feeling
- friendliness
open, welcoming behaviour toward others
文法句型
frigidity of [someone]
with frigidity
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person or their behaviour, not a thing. Often paired with prepositions 'of', 'in', or 'between' to name who or what is being cold.
常見錯誤
2. a long-term inability, usually discussed in women, to feel sexual desire or plea
a long-term inability, usually discussed in women, to feel sexual desire or pleasure during physical relations with a partner
The therapist explained that frigidity is often caused by stress, past trauma, or hormone changes.
clinical discussion of causes
Yuna had read several articles about frigidity before deciding to speak with her doctor.
subject seeks medical advice about frigidity
Older medical books used the word frigidity in ways that today many people find judgemental.
Modern doctors prefer clearer terms over the broad label of frigidity when treating patients.
- anorgasmia
specific medical term for inability to reach orgasm; narrower than frigidity
- sexual dysfunction
broader modern term covering several related conditions
文法句型
frigidity in [someone]
用法筆記
Now considered an outdated and often biased clinical term; modern medical writing prefers specific terms such as 'low sexual desire' or 'sexual arousal disorder'. Distinguish from sense 1 by the medical or psychological context — sense 2 only appears in health, therapy, or research discussions.
常見錯誤
3. the quality of being very low in temperature, used about places, air, or weather
the quality of being very low in temperature, used about places, air, or weather conditions
Ezra was unprepared for the frigidity of the air on the mountain summit.
frigidity of [place/air] noun phrase
The frigidity of the lake water made swimming impossible even in late spring.
frigidity of [body of water]
Polar bears are well suited to the extreme frigidity of the Arctic winter.
Élise wrote in her journal about the strange beauty and frigidity of the desert at night.
文法句型
frigidity of [place/air/water]
用法筆記
Used in formal or literary writing about temperature; in everyday speech 'coldness' or 'freezing temperature' is far more common. Distinguish from sense 1 by the subject — sense 3 is about places, air, or water, never about people.