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.

b

: the utmost degree (as of emotion or pain)

4

: a drastic or desperate act or measure

driven to extremities

Synonyms of extremity

• crisis
• head

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

While Hawke, who played Manson family member Linda Kasabian/’Flowerchild’, did not end up barefoot in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, her co-star Margaret Qualley famously showed off her lower extremities in the film. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025

The next day, two partial sections of lower extremities were found on the shoreline. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025

An autopsy conducted on Campbell revealed significant amount of bruising and abrasions to the boy's head, face, torso, back and extremities. —Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025

Reichardt emphasizes the extremity of the action with a strikingly novel form of cinematic narrative that, in a more ordinary drama, might feel like a facile evasion. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids 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