extremity

noun

ex·​trem·​i·​ty ik-ˈstre-mə-tē 

plural extremities

1

a

: the farthest or most remote part, section, or point

the island's westernmost extremity

b

: a limb of the body

especially : a human hand or foot

2

a

: extreme danger or critical need

b

: a moment marked by imminent destruction or death

3

a

: an intense degree

the extremity of his participation

—Saturday Rev.

b

: the utmost degree (as of emotion or pain)

4

: a drastic or desperate act or measure

driven to extremities

Synonyms

• boiling point
• breaking point
• clutch
• conjuncture
• crisis
• crossroad(s)
• crunch
• crunch time
• Dunkirk
• emergency
• exigency
• flash point
• head
• juncture
• tinderbox
• zero hour

Examples of extremity in a Sentence

The extremity of her grief is impossible to imagine.

made offers of aid to the refugees, and of asylum in extremity

Recent Examples on the Web

The decision should come as no surprise, as Rizzo spent the entire season battling injuries, whether fractured fingers or a lower extremity injury. —David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024

Across western North Carolina, homes and structures were collapsing after water invaded their lower extremities, snapping frames or pushing homes clean off foundations. —Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024

Four of them were related to border falls, with lower extremity injuries that generally required a few days to heal enough for discharge. —Paul Sisson, The Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2024

Raynaud’s phenomenon, also called Raynaud’s syndrome, is a condition that causes the small blood vessels in the extremities to constrict. —John Loeppky, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

extremity

noun

ex·​trem·​i·​ty ik-ˈstrem-ət-ē 

plural extremities

1

: the farthest limit, point, or part

2

: an end part of a limb of the body (as a hand or foot)

3

: an extreme degree (as of emotion or pain)

Medical Definition

extremity

noun

ex·​trem·​i·​ty ik-ˈstrem-ət-ē 

plural extremities

1

: the farthest or most remote part, section, or point

2

: a limb of the body

especially : a human hand or foot