Main Entry:

cri·sis

Pronunciation:

\ˈkrī-səs\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural cri·ses \ˈkrī-ˌsēz\

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek krisis, literally, decision, from krinein to decide — more at certain

Date:

15th century

1 a: the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever b: a paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, or disordered function c: an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person's life <a midlife crisis>2: the decisive moment (as in a literary plot)3 a: an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending ; especially : one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome <a financial crisis> b: a situation that has reached a critical phase <the environmental crisis>

synonyms see juncture