Crisis
ˈkraɪsɪs
Definitions
A time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger; a turning point.
ˈkraɪsɪs
A time of intense difficulty or danger.
The company is facing a leadership crisis.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're baking a cake, and the oven breaks! That's a crisis – a sudden problem that needs to be fixed quickly.
👶 For kids: A crisis is when something bad happens and you need to fix it right away.
More Examples
The city declared a state of emergency due to the water crisis.
She helped resolve a family crisis by mediating a conversation.
How It's Used
"The country faced an economic crisis."
"The patient was in a crisis after the surgery."
"The company's stock price plummeted during the financial crisis."
Idioms & expressions
a moment of crisis
A time where a significant decision or action is necessary to avoid severe consequences.
"During a moment of crisis, his calm demeanor helped him make the right decision."
crisis management
The process of handling a crisis.
"The company hired a crisis management team to handle the negative publicity."
to face a crisis
To encounter a crisis, be confronted by it.
"The government had to face a crisis concerning public health after the outbreak of a new disease."
From Latin *crisis* and Greek *krisis* meaning "a point of decision, outcome, judgment."
The term gained prominence in the 17th and 18th centuries, often used in medical contexts to denote a decisive moment in an illness.
Memory tip
Think of a 'cris'p situation - things are breaking down or changing rapidly.