juncture

noun

junc·​ture ˈjəŋ(k)-chər 

1

: a point of time

at this juncture

especially : one made critical by a concurrence of circumstances

2

a

: joint, connection

b

: the manner of transition or mode of relationship between two consecutive sounds in speech

3

: an instance of joining : junction

Did you know?

Join us as we journey into the history of juncture, a word that’s neither junky nor janky, but just dandy. Juncture comes from the Latin verb jungere ("to join") and has many English relatives including not only join and junction but also conjugal ("relating to marriage") and junta ("a group of persons controlling a government"). The use of juncture in English dates back to the 14th century, when it meant "a place where two or more things are joined." By the 17th century it could also refer to an important point in a process or activity.

Synonyms

• point
• moment

Choose the Right Synonym for juncture

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 juncture in a Sentence

Negotiations between the countries reached a critical juncture.

At this juncture it looks like they are going to get a divorce.

the juncture of two rivers

Recent Examples on the Web

Horner leaves at a crucial juncture in F1, as Red Bull faces challenges with its RB21 F1 car, and for the first time in the current ground effect era that began in 2022, Verstappen is not leading the Drivers' Championship. —Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025

Many prominent energy and hardware startups have faltered at this critical juncture, struggling to transition from promising prototypes to reliable performance in real-world settings at scale. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

The five-Test series against India is at a critical juncture, locked at 1-1 after the visitors’ emphatic 336-run victory at Edgbaston. —Max Mathews, New York Times, 9 July 2025

Critics in both the U.S. and Europe argue that withholding military aid at a critical juncture risks emboldening Russia and could force Ukraine into accepting unfavorable terms. —Danny Bakst, Fortune, 3 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for juncture

• puncture
• acupuncture
• venipuncture
• conjuncture
• disjuncture

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Kids Definition

juncture

noun

junc·​ture ˈjəŋ(k)-chər 

1

: an instance of joining : union

2

: joint entry 1 sense 3a, connection

3

: an important point of time

they feel they must make a decision at this juncture

junctural

-chə-rəl

adjective