intransigent

UK: /ɪnˈtrænsɪdʒ^ənt/ US: /ɪnˈtrænsɪdʒənt/ ,(in tran′si jənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•tran•si•gent or in•tran•si•geant /ɪnˈtrænsɪdʒənt/   adj. 

1. refusing to agree or compromise;
   inflexible:
   The sick man was intransigent about accepting treatment.

in•tran•si•gence, n. [uncountable] See -act-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•tran•si•gent  (in tran′si jənt), adj. 

1. refusing to agree or compromise;
   uncompromising;
   inflexible.

n. 

2. a person who refuses to agree or compromise, as in politics.

Also, in•tran′si•geant. 

• Latin trānsigent- (stem of trānsigēns, present participle of trānsigere to come to an agreement); see transact
• Spanish intransigente, equivalent. to in- in-³ + transigente (present participle of transigir to compromise)
• 1875–80

in•tran′si•gence, in•tran′si•gen•cy, n. 
in•tran′si•gent•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

intransigent, intransigeant / ɪnˈtrænsɪdʒənt/ adjective

1. not willing to compromise; obstinately maintaining an attitude

noun
also: intransigentist / ɪnˈtrænsɪdʒəntɪst/

1. an intransigent person, esp in politics

Etymology: 19th Century: from Spanish los intransigentes the uncompromising (ones), a name adopted by certain political extremists, from in-¹ + transigir to compromise, from Latin transigere to settle; see transact

inˈtransigence, inˈtransigeance, inˈtransigency noun

inˈtransigently, inˈtransigeantly adverb