exigent

adjective

ex·​i·​gent ˈek-sə-jənt  ˈeg-zə- 

1

: requiring immediate aid or action

exigent circumstances

2

: requiring or calling for much : demanding

an exigent client

exigently adverb

Did you know?

Exigent is a formal word with meanings closely tied to its Latin forbear, exigere, meaning "to demand." Exigent things and people demand attention—for example, an exigent client expects so much that they are hard to satisfy, and exigent circumstances are so significant that they can be used to justify certain police actions without the warrant typically required. Before exigent joined the language in the early 1600s, the noun exigency was being used to refer to something that is necessary in a particular situation—for example, the exigencies of an emergency situation might require that certain usual precautions be ignored. That word dates to the late 1500s, but even earlier, in the mid-1400s, exigence was on the scene doing the same job. All three words—exigent, exigency, and exigence—continue to meet the demands of English users, albeit not frequently in everyday conversation.

Synonyms of exigent

• urgent
• acute

Examples of exigent in a Sentence

started his workday with a flood of exigent matters that required his quick decision

Recent Examples on the Web

Under best practices for policing, officers are never to shoot into moving vehicles except in exigent circumstances, and are trained to avoid placing themselves in harm’s way. —Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026

There are a few, such as consent searches and exigent circumstances where someone is in danger or evidence is about to be destroyed. —John E. Jones, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026

For nearly a decade, Department of Homeland Security guidelines advised immigration agents to avoid enforcement actions in sensitive locations, such as schools, places of worship, and medical or mental health care facilities, unless exigent circumstances existed or prior approval was obtained. —Dell Cameron, Wired News, 21 Jan. 2026

About 20 animals were seized without a warrant due to exigent circumstances, according to Geckler. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin exigent-, exigens, present participle of exigere to demand — more at exact

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Legal Definition

exigent

adjective

ex·​i·​gent ˈek-sə-jənt 

: requiring immediate aid or action see also exigent circumstances