situation

American  

[sich-oo-ey-shuhn] / ˌsɪtʃ uˈeɪ ʃən /

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.

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situation British  

/ 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

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situation Idioms  

1. see no-win situation.

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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

Related Words

See state. See position.

Other Word Forms

• situational
  adjective
• situationally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of situation

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

Explanation

Situation is related to the verb "situate," which means to place. A building might be situated on the top of a hill — that's its position or situation. You've probably heard the term "sitcom," but may not realize it is short for "situation comedy," or a comedy where the humor is based on a set of quirky circumstances the characters find themselves placed in. A situation can also mean a set of circumstances that you find yourself placed in: holding both halves of a crazy aunt's broken vase could be a sticky situation — perfect for a situation comedy.

Example Sentences

Polymarket opened a three-day pop-up bar called “The Situation Room.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Brett Bruen, president of the Global Situation Room, a crisis communications agency, and a former diplomat with the Obama administration, acknowledged the defence secretary is a skilled communicator.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

Early on Friday the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Employment Situation Summary for March, with nonfarm U.S. payrolls declining by 92,000.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 6, 2026

He summoned Boebert to the Situation Room to discuss the matter.

From Slate • Nov. 20, 2025

And, as Washington later remarked, Boudinot had “better opportunities than most other officers in the army, to obtain knowledge of the Enemy’s Situation, motions and...designs.”

From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen

Related Words

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