: the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever
b
: a paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, or disordered function
c
: an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person's life
a midlife crisis
2
: the decisive moment (as in a literary plot)
The crisis of the play occurs in Act 3.
3
a
: an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending
especially: one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome
a financial crisis
the nation's energy crisis
b
: a situation that has reached a critical phase
the environmental crisis
the unemployment crisis
Did you know?
Semantic Crisis Intervention
Some people are bothered by changes in a word’s meaning (see: literally), while others have a more relaxed attitude towards semantic drift. For those who feel vexed when a word seems to have suddenly changed its spots, it may be of some comfort to know that words in English do this all the time; crisis is a fine example.Originally, crisis denoted “the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever.” Now it most commonly means “a difficult or dangerous situation that needs serious attention,” yet few people insist that it should be used exclusively in its older meaning. The normality of semantic change can be seen in another word that first appeared in febrile contexts: hectic, which now is primarily used to mean “very busy,” originally referred to a fever that was fluctuating but recurrent.
juncture stresses the significant concurrence or convergence of events.
an important juncture in our country's history
exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.
provide for exigencies
emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.
the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies
contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.
contingency plans
pinch implies urgency or pressure for action to a less intense degree than exigency or emergency.
come through in a pinch
strait, now commonly straits, applies to a troublesome situation from which escape is extremely difficult.
in dire straits
crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference.
a crisis of confidence
Example Sentences
She was dealing with a family crisis at the time. Most people blame the government for the country's worsening economic crisis. last year's state budget crisis In times of national crisis, we need strong leaders we can trust. A year ago, both companies were in crisis.
Recent Examples on the WebThat brings us full circle to the Jackson water crisis. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Although measures such as better irrigation management, a hydraulic dam and a water treatment plant have been proposed to alleviate the region’s water crisis, officials say there aren’t enough funds. Mustafa Salim, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 Jackson residents have faced a water crisis that on Aug. 29 included no running water because of problems at the city’s main facility, the O.B. Curtis Water Plant, following flooding of the Pearl River. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2022 And, Jackson State football wins big despite its home city's water crisis. Rick Klein, ABC News, 6 Sep. 2022 The development comes a week after Tate declared a state of emergency in response to the water crisis. Jason Duaine Hahn, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2022 But the water crisis has compounded the financial strain caused by an ongoing labor shortage and high inflation. Michael Goldberg, ajc, 4 Sep. 2022 The water crisis in Jackson illustrates how America’s water systems were built for a climate that no longer exists. Victoria Cavaliere, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2022 For the first time since Jackson’s latest water crisis unfolded, Gov. Reeves and Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba united at a joint news conference Thursday. Ashley R. Williams, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English crise, crisis, borrowed from Latin crisis "judgment, critical stage," borrowed from Greek krísis "act of separating, decision, judgment, event, outcome, turning point, sudden change," from kri-, variant stem of krī́nein "to separate, choose, decide, judge" + -sis, suffix forming nouns of action or process — more at certain entry 1