strait

[ streyt ]

noun

1. Often straits. (used with a singular verb) a narrow passage of water connecting two large bodies of water.
2. Often straits. a position of difficulty, distress, or need:

   Ill and penniless, he was in sad straits indeed.

   Synonyms: plight, predicament, dilemma, pinch, exigency

   Antonyms: ease

3. Archaic. a narrow passage or area.
4. an isthmus.

adjective

, Archaic.

1. narrow:

   Strait is the gate.

2. affording little space; confined in area.
3. strict, as in requirements or principles.

strait

/ streɪt /

noun

1. often plural
   1. a narrow channel of the sea linking two larger areas of sea
   2. ( capital as part of a name )

      the Strait of Gibraltar

2. often plural a position of acute difficulty (often in the phrase in dire or desperate straits )
3. archaic.
   a narrow place or passage

adjective

1. (of spaces, etc) affording little room
2. (of circumstances, etc) limiting or difficult
3. severe, strict, or scrupulous

strait

/ strāt /

1. A narrow waterway joining two larger bodies of water. The Strait of Gibraltar, for example, connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean.

Derived Forms

• ˈstraitly, adverb
• ˈstraitness, noun

Other Words From

• straitly adverb
• straitness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of strait¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English streit “narrow, a strait,” from Old French estreit “narrow, tight,” from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere “to tighten, bind”; strain ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of strait¹

C13: from Old French estreit narrow, from Latin strictus constricted, from stringere to bind tightly

Synonym Study

See emergency.

Example Sentences

The straightest of strait-laced operators – who see search as a powerful and useful customer touchpoint, are tarnished with the same brush as the sketchiest of spammers and scammers who are still alive and well within the industry.

From Search Engine Watch

I don’t want to downplay the dire straits that our elementary school kids are facing, but I don’t think taking away resources from middle and high schools kids is the answer — at least not in the numbers they are asking.

From Washington Post

Still, with millions of Americans out of work and in increasingly desperate straits, some lawmakers are growing more vocal with their fears about the risks of not reaching an agreement quickly.

From Washington Post

Prospect officials never disclosed the plan’s dire straits during the state approval process.

From ProPublica

Whatever the cause, the havoc this week leaves some teams, like the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos, in pretty dire straits.

From FiveThirtyEight

About $10 billion was earmarked to build a bridge across the Kerch Strait, with its unpredictable currents during spring floods.

From The Daily Beast

All were led by William Barents, he of the famous strait, who sought to find a shorter trade route from Europe to China.

From The Daily Beast

And if the Strait of Hormuz were to be blocked by Iran or any other country or entity, oil prices would skyrocket.

From The Daily Beast

“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it,” or so says Matthew 7.

From The Daily Beast

If a conflict with Iran escalated beyond airstrikes to a naval struggle in the Strait of Hormuz, more resources would be diverted.

From The Daily Beast

The children of thy barrenness shall still say in thy ears: The place is too strait for me, make me room to dwell in.

From Project Gutenberg

Departure on the fourth voyage, accompanied by a merchant-ship bound through Torres Strait.

From Project Gutenberg

Directions for the passage within the reefs through Torres Strait.

From Project Gutenberg

And the brave explorer sailed safely through the dangerous strait now named for him.

From Project Gutenberg

On the south-side of Clarence Strait the land is low, like the coast to the eastward.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• predicament