crisis

American  

[krahy-sis] / ˈkraɪ sɪs /

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.

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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?

Related Words

See emergency.

Other Word Forms

• crisic adjective
• postcrisis adjective

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

Example Sentences

That crisis moment created the opportunity for a storied rebirth, setting Apple on the trajectory that has made it one of this century’s most profitable and valuable companies, currently valued near $4 trillion.

From The Wall Street Journal

They are among the few merchant vessels to have sailed through the waterway since the conflagration trapped thousands of boats and threatened a global energy crisis.

From The Wall Street Journal

"These things accumulate and now Spurs find themselves in a crisis."

From BBC

Beijing has battled a persistent downturn in consumer and investor sentiment in recent years, a protracted property sector debt crisis and trade headwinds with the United States.

From Barron's

But “what we’re seeing right now is classic crisis trading: investors cutting risk, selling whatever they can for cash and covering margin calls elsewhere,” said Adrian Ash, a researcher at BullionVault .

From Barron's

Related Words

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