Rigid means stiff and unbending, unable to flex or change shape. A rigid steel beam won't bend like a flexible rubber hose. A rigid cardboard box holds its shape, while a soft cloth bag collapses when empty.

The word also describes people or rules that refuse to adapt or compromise. A rigid teacher might insist on the same classroom procedures every single day, never adjusting even when something different would work better. A rigid thinker struggles to consider new ideas or different ways of solving problems. Someone with a rigid schedule follows it exactly, becoming upset if anything changes, even slightly.

Being rigid isn't always bad: sometimes you need rigid standards, like the rigid safety rules that keep construction workers safe. A rigid commitment to honesty means you tell the truth even when it's hard. But excessive rigidity can cause problems. A rigid approach to a group project might ignore your teammates' good ideas. Rigid rules that made sense years ago might not fit new situations.

The opposite of rigid is flexible: able to bend, adapt, and change when circumstances require it. Most situations call for some balance. You want the bridge you're driving across to have rigid steel supports, but you also want the engineers who designed it to be flexible thinkers, open to innovative solutions.