extremity
noun
ex·trem·i·ty
ik-ˈstre-mə-tē 
plural extremities
1
a
: the farthest or most remote part, section, or point
the island's westernmost extremity
b
: a limb of the body
especially
: a human hand or foot
2
a
: extreme danger or critical need
b
: a moment marked by imminent destruction or death
3
a
: an intense degree
… the extremity of his participation.—
Saturday Rev.
Saturday Rev.
b
: the utmost degree (as of emotion or pain)
4
: a drastic or desperate act or measure
driven to extremities
Examples of extremity in a Sentence
The extremity of her grief is impossible to imagine.
made offers of aid to the refugees, and of asylum in extremity
Recent Examples on the Web
According to police, one woman was shot in the extremity, two juvenile males had lower extremity injuries, and an adult male and female with lower extremity injuries were admitted into area hospitals, all with non-life-threatening injuries.
—Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 21 June 2026
According to police, the five additional walk-in victims included a woman with a gunshot wound to an extremity, two boys with lower extremity injuries and a man and woman with lower extremity injuries.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026
In other words, no update on America’s most important lower extremity.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Baltimore County police are investigating how two youths obtained a gun that discharged Thursday and wounded one of them in the lower extremity, police said.
—Meghan Curtis, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for extremity
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Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 21 June 2026
According to police, the five additional walk-in victims included a woman with a gunshot wound to an extremity, two boys with lower extremity injuries and a man and woman with lower extremity injuries.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026
In other words, no update on America’s most important lower extremity.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Baltimore County police are investigating how two youths obtained a gun that discharged Thursday and wounded one of them in the lower extremity, police said.
—Meghan Curtis, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for extremity
Cite this Entry
“Extremity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extremity. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
extremity
noun
ex·trem·i·ty
ik-ˈstrem-ət-ē
plural extremities
1
: the farthest limit, point, or part
2
: an end part of a limb of the body (as a hand or foot)
3
: an extreme degree (as of emotion or pain)
Medical Definition
extremity
noun
ex·trem·i·ty
ik-ˈstrem-ət-ē
plural extremities
1
: the farthest or most remote part, section, or point
2
: a limb of the body
especially
: a human hand or foot
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