English vocabulary · C1
Exigency
/ˈek.sɪ.dʒən.si/ · n.
It means an urgent situation that demands immediate action. An exigency is a moment when you must act now, with no time to wait.
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Example sentences
- The flood created an exigency that the city was not ready for.
- Doctors are trained to act fast in any medical exigency.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- ex — out (from Latin)
- ig — drive (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- EMERGENCY — a sudden serious situation (Sudden & Dangerous)
- CRISIS — a very difficult or dangerous time (Large Scale & Serious)
- URGENCY — the need to act fast (Feeling & Pressure)
Words with the same root
ig — drive
- exigent — requiring immediate action; very urgent
Lesson notes
Exigency. It means an urgent situation that demands immediate action. An exigency is not just a problem — it is a moment when you must act now, with no time to wait.
Similar words are emergency, crisis, and urgency. Use exigency when a situation forces an immediate response with no time to prepare.
The flood created an exigency that the city was not ready for. Doctors are trained to act fast in any medical exigency.
From Latin. Ex- means out. Ig- means drive. Something that drives you out of your comfort and forces you to move — that is an exigency.