exgenent
Requiring immediate action or attention; pressing or demanding. It is often used to describe urgent circumstances or a person who is extremely demanding and exacting.
Examples
3 of 5The exigent nature of the situation meant we had to leave the building immediately.
The urgent nature of the situation meant we had to leave the building immediately.
The court ruled that exigent circumstances justified the search without a warrant.
The court ruled that urgent circumstances justified the search without a warrant.
My boss is so exigent; he wants every tiny detail to be perfect by tomorrow morning.
My boss is so demanding; he wants every tiny detail to be perfect by tomorrow morning.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'Exit' + 'Urgent'. If a situation is exigent, you might need to find an exit fast because the matter is urgent.
Quick Quiz
Due to the __________ circumstances of the flood, the governor declared a state of emergency.
Correct!
The correct answer is: exigent
Examples
The exigent nature of the situation meant we had to leave the building immediately.
everydayThe urgent nature of the situation meant we had to leave the building immediately.
The court ruled that exigent circumstances justified the search without a warrant.
formalThe court ruled that urgent circumstances justified the search without a warrant.
My boss is so exigent; he wants every tiny detail to be perfect by tomorrow morning.
informalMy boss is so demanding; he wants every tiny detail to be perfect by tomorrow morning.
Modern scholars must address the exigent moral questions raised by rapid advancements in biotechnology.
academicModern scholars must address the pressing moral questions raised by rapid advancements in biotechnology.
The company faced exigent financial pressures that required an immediate restructuring of its debt.
businessThe company faced pressing financial pressures that required an immediate restructuring of its debt.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
meeting exigent needs
fulfilling immediate and critical requirements
the exigencies of war
the urgent requirements and hardships of wartime
exigent duty
a task that cannot be delayed
Often Confused With
Existent means 'currently living or real,' while exigent means 'urgent or demanding.'
Expedient refers to something that is convenient or practical for a purpose, while exigent refers to the urgency of the purpose itself.
Usage Notes
Exigent is a high-level formal word. While it can describe people, it is most frequently used in legal and professional contexts to describe circumstances that allow for a deviation from standard procedures due to urgency.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misspell the word as 'exigant' or confuse its meaning with 'existing' due to the similar sound of the first two syllables.
Memory Tip
Think of 'Exit' + 'Urgent'. If a situation is exigent, you might need to find an exit fast because the matter is urgent.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'exigens', the present participle of 'exigere', meaning 'to drive out, demand, or measure.'
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In American legal terminology, 'exigent circumstances' is a specific phrase used to describe situations where police can enter a home without a warrant to prevent physical harm or the destruction of evidence.
Quick Quiz
Due to the __________ circumstances of the flood, the governor declared a state of emergency.
Correct!
The correct answer is: exigent
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