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Exigent: meaning, definitions and examples

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exigent

 

[ ˈɛksɪdʒənt ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

urgent situation

Exigent describes a situation or condition that requires immediate attention or action. It often refers to demands that are pressing and cannot be postponed. This term is frequently used in legal and academic contexts to describe circumstances where immediate response is critical.

Synonyms

critical, demanding, pressing, urgent

Examples of usage

  • The exigent circumstances required the police to enter the property without a warrant.
  • He faced an exigent deadline that left him no time to waste.
  • The exigent needs of the community were addressed promptly by the officials.

Translations

Translations of the word "exigent" in other languages:

🇵🇹 exigente

🇮🇳 महत्वपूर्ण

🇩🇪 dringend

🇮🇩 mendesak

🇺🇦 терміновий

🇵🇱 pilny

🇯🇵 緊急の

🇫🇷 urgent

🇪🇸 urgente

🇹🇷 acil

🇰🇷 긴급한

🇸🇦 ملح

🇨🇿 naléhavý

🇸🇰 naliehavý

🇨🇳 紧急的

🇸🇮 nujno

🇮🇸 bráðabirgða

🇰🇿 шұғыл

🇬🇪 მხოლოდ

🇦🇿 təcili

🇲🇽 urgente

Etymology

The word 'exigent' comes from the Latin term 'exigentem,' which is the present participle of 'exigere,' meaning 'to demand' or 'to require.' The prefix 'ex-' means 'out of' or 'from,' combined with 'agere,' meaning 'to drive' or 'to do.' This combination reflects the idea of pressing someone to act or respond. The term made its way into Middle English and maintained its original sense related to urgency and necessity. Over the centuries, 'exigent' has been used in legal texts and formal writing, indicating heightened demands that necessitate immediate action. Its specific application in law often relates to circumstances where authorities must act without delay to prevent harm or loss.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,729, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.