crisis

American  

[krahy-sis] / ˈkraɪ sɪs /

noun

crises plural

1. a stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events, especially for better or for worse, is determined; turning point.

2. a condition of instability or danger, as in social, economic, political, or international affairs, leading to a decisive change.

3. a dramatic emotional or circumstantial upheaval in a person's life.

4. Medicine/Medical.

   1. the point in the course of a serious disease at which a decisive change occurs, leading either to recovery or to death.

   2. the change itself.

5. the point in a play or story at which hostile elements are most tensely opposed to each other.

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adjective

1. of, referring to, or for use in dealing with a crisis.

crisis British  

/ ˈkraɪsɪs /

noun

1. a crucial stage or turning point in the course of something, esp in a sequence of events or a disease

2. an unstable period, esp one of extreme trouble or danger in politics, economics, etc

3. pathol a sudden change, for better or worse, in the course of a disease

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Usage

Plural word for crisis The plural form of crisis is crises, pronounced [ krahy-seez ]. The plurals of several other singular words that end in -sis are also formed in the same way, including hypothesis/hypotheses, analysis/analyses, and axis/axes. A similar change is made when pluralizing appendix as appendices. Irregular plurals that are formed like crises derive directly from their original pluralization in Latin and Greek. Do you know: What is the plural of thesis?

Synonym Usage

See emergency.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• crisic
  adjective
• postcrisis
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• crises
  plural

Etymology

Origin of crisis

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin crisis “(medical) crisis,” from Greek krísis “decision, interpretation,” equivalent to kri- variant stem of krīnein “to decide, separate, judge” + -sis -sis

Explanation

A crisis is a difficult or dangerous time in which a solution is needed — and quickly. For example, the crisis caused by a natural disaster might inspire you and your friends to make a donation. The noun crisis comes from the Latinized form of the Greek word krisis, meaning "turning point in a disease." At such a moment, the person with the disease could get better or worse: it's a critical moment. Think of a celebrity whose recent antics generate headlines like "Rock Star in Crisis" — that person needs help that may or may not be sought. At the moment of crisis, things are unstable and maybe even dangerous.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crisis crises

With no solutions in sight, oil producers have little choice but to try to communicate goodwill to the administration—and play the role of whipping boy as the crisis endures, observers say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

America’s quietest lender is now fighting a bond crisis at home, and this week’s Bank of Japan meeting is the tell.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

While the focus is currently on western Europe, the EU's crisis management chief warned conditions elsewhere on the continent could see new fires.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

Guggenheim Partners got into the insurance business after America’s 2008 financial crisis, spotting investment opportunities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Robert McNamara, secretary of defense during the crisis, came to what I consider to be a far more disturbing conclusion.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

“The relative calm in the S&P 500 suggests that investors have learned that geopolitical crises have usually been good buying opportunities,” he told clients in a note on Thursday.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

Such an outcome would rank among the largest humanitarian and economic crises in history.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026

Officials said the increase was being driven by a mix of online threats, lone actors, ideological extremism, foreign adversaries and individuals experiencing mental health crises.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who took over at the helm of the U.S. plane maker in 2024, has been pushing to stabilize the American company’s finances after multiple crises.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

For once, the cabinet meeting was free of crises, battle news, and problems requiring the president’s immediate attention.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

Related Words

• catastrophe
• change
• confrontation
• crunch
• deadlock
• dilemma
• disaster
• emergency
• impasse
• mess
• pressure
• situation
• trouble