exigency

Also ex·i·gence

[ek-si-juhn-see, ig-zij-uhn-]

noun

plural

exigencies 

1. exigent state or character; urgency.

2. Usually exigencies the need, demand, or requirement intrinsic to a circumstance, condition, etc..

   the exigencies of city life.

3. a case or situation that demands prompt action or remedy; emergency.

   He promised help in any exigency.

   Synonyms: pinch, fix, predicament, strait, plight, contingency, crisis

exigency

/ ˈɛksɪdʒəns, ˈɛksɪdʒənsɪ, ɪɡˈzɪdʒənsɪ /

noun

1. the state of being exigent; urgency

2. (often plural) an urgent demand; pressing requirement

3. an emergency

Word History and Origins

Origin of exigency¹

From the Medieval Latin word exigentia, dating back to 1575–85. See exigent, -ency

Example Sentences

Daniel Kehlmann’s latest novel, “The Director,” an engrossing meditation on the exigencies of art and the dangers of artistic complicity, lands in the United States at a good time.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, we have endless debates about whether needs — access to medical care, food, affordable housing — should be rights, or should be left to the exigencies of good luck and near-perfect health.

Read more on Salon

"I think that the time horizon associated with those big pieces of legislation was way out of sync with the exigencies of the presidential election," he said.

Read more on BBC

Economic exigencies are often more urgent than a deference to the past, but Little Tokyo is trying to have it both ways.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“We discussed whether we had exigency” to enter the apartment forcibly.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contingency 
• vicissitude