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Synonyms

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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Others claimed that a re-grading process within the Welsh Ambulance Service has contributed to the current crisis.

From BBC

“The crisis counselors try to help, but end up kind of just landing wrong.”

From Los Angeles Times

Following a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo Wednesday, Macron spoke of their cooperation in the face of the "current energy crisis".

From Barron's

Block’s concerns crop up at a time when the market is extremely concerned about developing problems in the private-credit sector and the potential spillover from any crisis there would also impact the publicly-traded credit markets.

From MarketWatch

His investors and the industry are having a crisis of faith.

From The Wall Street Journal