situation
Americannoun
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situations
plural
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manner of being situated; location or position with reference to environment.
The situation of the house allowed for a beautiful view.
- Synonyms:
- site
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a place or locality.
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condition; case; plight.
He is in a desperate situation.
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the state of affairs; combination of circumstances.
The present international situation is dangerous.
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a position or post of employment; job.
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a state of affairs of special or critical significance in the course of a play, novel, etc.
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Sociology. the aggregate of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors acting on an individual or group to condition behavioral patterns.
noun
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physical placement, esp with regard to the surroundings
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state of affairs; combination of circumstances
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a complex or critical state of affairs in a novel, play, etc
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social or financial status, position, or circumstances
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a position of employment; post
Usage
Situation is often used in contexts in which it is redundant or imprecise. Typical examples are: the company is in a crisis situation or people in a job situation. In the first example, situation does not add to the meaning and should be omitted. In the second example, it would be clearer and more concise to substitute a phrase such as people at work
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of situation
First recorded in 1480–90, situation is from the Medieval Latin word situātiōn- (stem of situātiō ). See situate, -ion
Explanation
Situation is related to the verb "situate," which means to place. A building might be situated on the top of a hill — that's its position or situation. You've probably heard the term "sitcom," but may not realize it is short for "situation comedy," or a comedy where the humor is based on a set of quirky circumstances the characters find themselves placed in. A situation can also mean a set of circumstances that you find yourself placed in: holding both halves of a crazy aunt's broken vase could be a sticky situation — perfect for a situation comedy.
Vocabulary lists containing situation
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 8
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The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The ACT Reading Test: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“It’s a complicated situation, and we don’t have enough data yet.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
The states and Paramount haggled over potential sales of cable channels including CNN, a step California and Connecticut pushed for, people familiar with the situation said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Sacramento has rejected the vast majority of transportation funding requests linked to the 2028 Olympics — a situation that leaves L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
"I'm in a lucky situation being at university where I have the time to fight my case alongside my studies," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Since that was about all I understood of my current situation, I clamped my mouth shut and didn’t say anything more.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Penalties could not be served under a safety car, so the two situations combined dropped Alonso right to the back of the field.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
And law firms are eager to avoid situations where equity partners hold on to their positions while winding down their practice or taking less work, which can squeeze the finances of others down the ranks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
His words immediately ricocheted around the internet, as it’s generally understood that humans are the victimizers in such situations.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026
There will be occasional flurries of action and tense situations, but it’s a leisurely watch — though not slow, in the pejorative sense.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
Living with my mom, I saw how she used language to cross boundaries, handle situations, navigate the world.
From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
