noun
Uncommon
stiffness
Stiffness (noun) means the quality of being rigid or resistant to bending. Example: “Engineers test the stiffness of the beam before approving the design.”
noun
1
The quality of being rigid or resistant to bending.
"Engineers test the stiffness of the beam before approving the design."
"The stiffness of the new mattress took a while to get used to."
2
Soreness or tightness in the muscles, often after unusual exercise.
"He woke up with stiffness in his legs after the long hike."
"A hot bath can help ease muscle stiffness."
3
A lack of ease or naturalness in manner or style.
"There was a certain stiffness to his speech that made the audience uneasy."
How to use stiffness
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow rigid, sore, or unnatural something is — a beam, a body, or a personality.
Common pairings
muscle stiffness
joint stiffness
social stiffness
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Word forms
- Plural
- stiffnesses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Engineers test the _____ of the beam before approving the design.
Etymology
From Old English stīþnes, built from "stiff" plus the noun ending "-ness".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “stiffness” mean?
The word “stiffness” means the quality of being rigid or resistant to bending. In plain terms, how rigid, sore, or unnatural something is — a beam, a body, or a personality.
How do you use “stiffness” in a sentence?
Here is “stiffness” used in a sentence: “Engineers test the stiffness of the beam before approving the design.”
What part of speech is “stiffness”?
“Stiffness” is a noun.
Where does the word “stiffness” come from?
The word “stiffness” comes from Old English. From Old English stīþnes, built from "stiff" plus the noun ending "-ness".
Is “stiffness” a common word?
“Stiffness” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “stiffness” have?
“Stiffness” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the quality of being rigid or resistant to bending.
