Word
stringent
Phoneticsstrin·gent, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɹɪndʒənt/
UK/stɹˈɪndʒənt/
Definition
adj. very strict and precise. You use this to describe rules, laws, or tests that must be followed exactly and are hard to pass.
adj. imposing rigorous standards or requirements; precise and exacting. Often describes regulations, safety protocols, or financial controls.
Examples
“The airline has stringent safety rules.”
“To ensure public safety, the government introduced stringent new laws regarding chemical waste disposal.”
“The university maintains stringent entry requirements to ensure that only the most dedicated students are admitted to its prestigious medical program.”
Examples
simple
“The airline has stringent safety rules.”
contextual
“To ensure public safety, the government introduced stringent new laws regarding chemical waste disposal.”
complex
“The university maintains stringent entry requirements to ensure that only the most dedicated students are admitted to its prestigious medical program.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “stringent” in context.
Adjective
01. stringent criterion
“The scholarship committee applied a stringent criterion to ensure only the most exceptional candidates were selected.”
adj + noun
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.
Real-World Examples
“Also, human trials require stringent protocols and take years to start and complete.” “There were stringent conditions for the pilot and the crew.” Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin stringēns, stringentem, from Proto-Indo-European *streyg- (“to stroke, to shear, stiff”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/stringent