situation

[sich-oo-ey-shuhn]

noun

1. manner of being situated; location or position with reference to environment.

   The situation of the house allowed for a beautiful view.

   Synonyms: site

2. a place or locality.

3. condition; case; plight.

   He is in a desperate situation.

4. the state of affairs; combination of circumstances.

   The present international situation is dangerous.

5. a position or post of employment; job.

6. a state of affairs of special or critical significance in the course of a play, novel, etc.

7. Sociology.,  the aggregate of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors acting on an individual or group to condition behavioral patterns.

situation

/ ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. physical placement, esp with regard to the surroundings

2. 1. state of affairs; combination of circumstances

   2. a complex or critical state of affairs in a novel, play, etc

3. social or financial status, position, or circumstances

4. a position of employment; post

Usage

Situation is often used in contexts in which it is redundant or imprecise. Typical examples are: the company is in a crisis situation or people in a job situation. In the first example, situation does not add to the meaning and should be omitted. In the second example, it would be clearer and more concise to substitute a phrase such as people at work

Other Word Forms

• situational adjective
• situationally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of situation¹

First recorded in 1480–90, situation is from the Medieval Latin word situātiōn- (stem of situātiō ). See situate, -ion

Idioms and Phrases

see no-win situation.

Synonym Study

See state. See position.

Example Sentences

“I could have done better in that situation and I know that. I really want my staff to understand that I value them.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In the face of federal military force, violence in Los Angeles decreased and the situation substantially improved,” he told the court.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Unless government gets a handle on this situation quite soon, it's going to lose the ability to do law and order itself."

Read more on BBC

“If I were a furloughed worker in this situation, I might be more uneasy than otherwise,” she said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The family got there as quickly as they could, but on arrival doctors explained just how serious the situation was.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• case 
• condition 
• place 
• plight 
• position 
• scene