exigent

[ ek-si-juhnt ]

adjective

1. requiring immediate action or aid; urgent; pressing.
2. requiring a great deal, or more than is reasonable.

exigent

/ ˈɛksɪdʒənt /

adjective

1. urgent; pressing
2. exacting; demanding

Derived Forms

• ˈexigently, adverb

Other Words From

• exi·gent·ly adverb
• non·exi·gent adjective
• non·exi·gent·ly adverb
• un·exi·gent adjective
• un·exi·gent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of exigent¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin exigent- (stem of exigēns ) (present participle of exigere to drive out, demand), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + -ig- (combining form of agere to drive) + -ent- -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of exigent¹

C15: from Latin exigere to drive out, weigh out, from agere to drive, compel

Example Sentences

For example, the City Council could still impose a hiring freeze at the commission, or even intervene in its spending plans, if it found there were “exigent circumstances.”

From Los Angeles Times

Moreover, while the court acted with some dispatch in the immunity case, it was nowhere near as quick as in other exigent cases.

From Los Angeles Times

“Texas has demonstrated that even in the most exigent circumstances, it will not allow Border Patrol access to the border to conduct law enforcement and emergency response activities.”

From Los Angeles Times

Teachers also have academic freedom — within limits: “It is a fine balance sometimes but one that we are exigent about.”

From Los Angeles Times

Police can legally enter a structure without a warrant if there are “exigent circumstance” where someone’s life is in imminent danger or evidence is about to be destroyed.

From Seattle Times