A crisis (sounds like cry–sis) is a “tragedy or negative event” that can be political, economic, financial, or environmental, as in the climate crisis. It’s similar in meaning to dilemma or pickle.
What’s the plural of “crisis”?
- Crisis (pronounced cry–sis) is singular.
- Crises (pronounced cry–seez) is plural.
Like other Greek nouns, crisis switches its suffix to –es as a plural. While regular plurals end in s/-es, like cats and potatoes, these words just add s/-es to the end. Crisis (and diagnosis and analysis) switch to plural by changing its inner vowel from “i” to “e.”
| Sentence examples with “crisis”/”crises” | |
| singular | She was dealing with a family crisis at the time. |
| plural | A succession of economic crises had limited the money available for new social policies. |
Why is the plural of “crisis” “crises”?
The noun crisis entered Latin from the earlier Greek word krisis, which translates to “a turning point in a disease, that change which indicates recovery or death”. Also, “a vitally important or decisive state of things, the point at which change must come, for better or worse”.
Other Greek nouns
| singular | plural |
| crisis | crises |
| diagnosis | diagnoses |
| oasis | oases |
| synopsis | synopses |
| thesis | theses |
Crisis/crises usage in sentences
| Sentences with “crisis” singular | Sentences with “crises” plural |
| His behaviour suggests he is having a midlife crisis. Most people blame the government for the country’s worsening economic crisis. In 1887, a severe banking crisis occurred in Sardinia. | Every age consists of crises that seem intolerable to those who live through them. Economic crises also underscore the importance of effective social safety nets. The countries have faced numerous fiscal crises, which have resulted in high unemployment. |
Synonyms of crisis
- catastrophe
- calamity
- cataclysm
- dilemma
- mess
- emergency
- disaster
- impasse
- deadlock
- pickle
- predicament
- quandary
- culmination
- juncture
Phrases similar to crisis
- critical point
- critical period
- crossroads
- hour of decision
- dire straits
- moment of truth
- turning point
- point of no return
History of the word ‘crisis’
Early 15c., crise, crisis, “decisive point in the progress of a disease,” also “vitally important or decisive state of things, point at which change must come, for better or worse,” from Latinized form of Greek krisis “turning point in a disease, that change which indicates recovery or death”
Etymonline, crisis.
Learn more about nouns
- What are Possessive Nouns? (Formation of Possessive Nouns)
- Appositive Nouns (Meaning, Explanation & Examples)
- Abstract Nouns vs. Concrete Nouns Explained
- What are Mass Nouns? (Mass Nouns vs Collective Nouns)
- What are Common Nouns vs. Proper Nouns?
- Plural-Only Nouns (Explanation & Examples)
- What are Collective Nouns? (Collective Nouns vs Mass Nouns)
Sources
- Example sentences from dictionary.com
- Definition of crisis
- Noah Webster
- Synonyms of crisis/crises
- Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of crisis.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/crisis. Accessed 11 October 2023.
- Crisis, Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, accessed on October 11, 2023.
