crisis

[krahy-sis]

noun

plural

crises 

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.

adjective

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

crisis

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• crisic adjective
• postcrisis adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crisis¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of crisis¹

C15: from Latin: decision, from Greek krisis, from krinein to decide

Synonym Study

See emergency.

Example Sentences

A crisis team with the Los Angeles Police Department spoke with the driver by phone before he walked to First and Spring streets, where he was handcuffed by officers, according to KTLA.

From Los Angeles Times

Ms Yadav says she learnt the art of interpreting cues, anticipating problems and reacting in real time to avert crises.

From BBC

The material just read “like fire,” she recalls, reflecting on her character’s deep crisis.

From Los Angeles Times

It might all be entirely coincidental but the lack of continuity at Forest has thrown the club into crisis.

From BBC

A group of leading experts on the Colorado River say Western states urgently need to cut water use to avert a deepening crisis.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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

When To Use

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?