Jump to:

• crux
  crux

  noun

  a vital, basic, decisive, or pivotal point.
• Crux
  Crux

  noun

  Southern Cross.

crux

¹ American  

[kruhks] / krʌks /

noun

cruxes, plural cruces plural

1. a vital, basic, decisive, or pivotal point.

   The crux of the trial was his whereabouts at the time of the murder.

   Synonyms:

   gist, core, heart, essence

2. a cross.

3. something that torments by its puzzling nature; a perplexing difficulty.

---

Crux ² American  

[kruhks] / krʌks /

noun

Astronomy.

1. Southern Cross.

---

crux ¹ British  

/ krʌks /

noun

1. a vital or decisive stage, point, etc (often in the phrase the crux of the matter )

2. a baffling problem or difficulty

3. mountaineering the most difficult and often decisive part of a climb or pitch

4. a rare word for cross

---

Crux ² British  

/ krʌks /

noun

1. the more formal name for the Southern Cross

---

Etymology

Origin of crux¹

1635–45; < Latin: stake, scaffold, or cross used in executions, torment; figurative senses perhaps < New Latin crux ( interpretum ) (commentators') torment, a difficult passage in a text; cf. crucial

Origin of Crux²

< Latin: a cross

Explanation

The essential point or problem is the crux. People are always trying to get to the crux of a matter or the crux of a problem, while others try to distract them. The noun crux is often followed by the phrases "of the matter" or "of the problem." When people are trying to identify the crux of something, it's like they want to get to the heart of it. They want to peel back the layers and find out what something is really all about or what is causing the problem. No more beating around the bush!

Example Sentences

Crux Capital, an early-stage venture capital fund, also decided to build a custom CRM after struggling to find SaaS offerings that fit its needs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

“We have to change attitudes before we even think about changing what the Church says about any given question,” he told Crux.

From Salon • Oct. 12, 2025

The online Catholic magazine Crux noted that five popes — Pius V, Sixtus V, Clement XIII, Paul V and Clement IX — are interred in that basilica.

From Washington Times • Dec. 14, 2023

In ancient times before Earth’s precession shifted the stars toward the south, the stars of Crux were visible from Europe.

From National Geographic • Aug. 23, 2023

The Current was quick, and she didn’t have the double gun decks and the heavy artillery of the Crux.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee

Related Words

• bottom line
• core
• essence
• gist
• nub