Frigid means extremely cold, so cold that it's harsh and uncomfortable. When weather forecasters describe frigid temperatures, they mean the kind of cold that stings your face and makes your fingers ache even through gloves. Antarctica is a frigid continent where temperatures drop far below freezing year-round.

The word suggests bone-chilling, bitter cold that goes beyond merely chilly weather. A winter morning might be cool or cold, but it's only frigid when you step outside and the air feels like it's biting through your coat. The Arctic Ocean's frigid waters would be dangerous to swim in, even in summer.

When something is frigid, the cold is extreme enough to make you seriously uncomfortable or even put you in danger. Scientists talk about frigid zones near Earth's poles, where ice and snow dominate the landscape because temperatures stay so low.

The word can also describe someone's unfriendly or cold manner. A frigid response means someone replies in a way that feels icy and unwelcoming.