strait

noun

1

a

: a comparatively narrow passageway connecting two large bodies of water

—often used in plural but singular in construction

b

: isthmus

c

archaic : a narrow space or passage

2

: a situation of perplexity or distress

—often used in plural

in dire straits

Did you know?

strait or straight?

Straight and strait are homophones (“one of two or more words pronounced alike but different in meaning or derivation or spelling”), and many people are in the habit of confusing such creatures, particularly when used in fixed phrases. If you express no emotion you have a straight face; an upright person is a straight shooter; a straight flush is “a poker hand containing five cards of the same suit in sequence.” However, if you find yourself in a difficult situation you are in dire straits. Straitjacket and straitlaced are the more commonly used forms for the restrictive garment and the “strict in manners” adjective, although straightjacket and straightlaced are also occasionally found.

Synonyms of strait

• neck
• channel
• sound
• bay
• gulf
• roads
• narrows

Choose the Right Synonym for strait

juncture, exigency, emergency, contingency, pinch, strait (or straits) crisis mean a critical or crucial time or state of affairs.

juncture stresses the significant concurrence or convergence of events.

an important juncture in our country's history

exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.

provide for exigencies

emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.

the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies

contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.

contingency plans

pinch implies urgency or pressure for action to a less intense degree than exigency or emergency.

come through in a pinch

strait, now commonly straits, applies to a troublesome situation from which escape is extremely difficult.

in dire straits

crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference.

a crisis of confidence

Examples of strait in a Sentence

Her campaign is in desperate straits.

The company is in desperate financial straits.

The economy is in dire straits.

Recent Examples on the Web

This came a day after US forces shot down four other Iranian attack drones that were launched toward the strait. —Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 7 June 2026

The Metropolitan Opera is in grim financial straits. —Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 7 June 2026

Some tankers continued moving cargoes via the strait despite the risks, using increasingly opaque methods to avoid military threats. —Devika Krishna Kumar, Fortune, 6 June 2026

Iranian state media on Monday said Iran's negotiators would halt negotiations and shut the strait. —Garrett Downs, CNBC, 4 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Rhymes for strait

• ate
• bait
• bate
• cate
• crate
• date
• eight
• fait
• fate
• fete
• frate
• freight

Kids Definition

strait

noun

ˈstrāt

1

a

: a narrow channel connecting two large bodies of water

—often used in plural

b

: isthmus

2

: a situation of confusion or distress

—often used in plural

in difficult straits