crisis

UK: /ˈkraɪsɪs/ US: /ˈkraɪsɪs/ ,(krī′sis)

Inflections of 'crisis' (n): npl: crises

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cri•sis /ˈkraɪsɪs/   n., pl. -ses (-sēz).

1. a turning point in a situation:
   [countable] a crisis in their marriage.
   [uncountable] It was a time of great crisis for him.
2. a condition of instability, as in international relations, that leads to an important change:
   [countable] the Middle East crisis.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cri•sis  (krī′sis), n., pl. -ses (-sēz),  adj. 

n. 

1. a stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events, esp. 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
   • the point in the course of a serious disease at which a decisive change occurs, leading either to recovery or to death.
   • the change itself.
5. Literature the point in a play or story at which hostile elements are most tensely opposed to each other.

adj. 

6. Literature of, referring to, or for use in dealing with a crisis.

• Greek krísis decision, equivalent. to kri- variant stem of krí̄nein to decide, separate, judge + -sis -sis
• Latin
• late Middle English 1375–1425

cri′sic, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. See emergency. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

crisis / ˈkraɪsɪs/ noun ( -ses / -siːz/)

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

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin: decision, from Greek krisis, from krinein to decide