A crisis (pronounced cry–sis) is a serious difficulty or turning point that can be political, economic, financial, environmental, or personal.
What’s the plural of crisis?
- Crisis (pronounced cry–siss) is singular.
- Crises (pronounced cry–seeze) is plural.
Crisis, singular and plural
Like several English nouns from Greek that end in -is, crisis forms its plural by changing -is to -es: crisis → crises. Compare: analysis → analyses, thesis → theses, basis → bases.
A year ago, both companies were in crisis.
She has experienced several personal crises throughout her life.
Why is the plural of “crisis” “crises”?
The English noun crisis comes via Latin from Greek krisis “decision, turning point.” Nouns of this pattern typically pluralize with -es in English, so crisis becomes crises in the plural.
Other Greek nouns: singular → plural
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| crisis | crises |
| diagnosis | diagnoses |
| oasis | oases |
| synopsis | synopses |
Sentence examples: crisis & crises
| Form | Example sentences |
|---|---|
| crisis (singular) |
In times of national crisis, we need strong leaders we can trust. Most people blame the government for the country’s worsening economic crisis. She was dealing with a family crisis at the time. Were a serious crisis to arise, the government would have to act swiftly. The city’s financial crisis threatened essential services. |
| crises (plural) |
The party had been battered by crises and scandals throughout its previous five years in government. With a hurricane and an earthquake in the same week, the state is facing multiple crises. Leaders discussed lessons learned from past crises during the summit. Several simultaneous crises stretched emergency services to their limits. |
Synonyms & nearby words
Synonyms for crisis
Nearby phrases
Quotes from the media & literature
A Bolton homelessness charity is appealing for volunteers to extend the opening hours of its food bank to help tackle the cost of living crisis.
The system is in crisis—mainly as a result of chronic underinvestment.
It sounded as if a major crisis were brewing in the office there.
She wanted a post-operative recovery room, to avoid crises on a ward ill equipped to deal with them.
Origin of crisis
From Greek krisis “decision, turning point,” via Latin; earliest uses in English refer to medicine (the turning point in a disease) and later broaden to any decisive point or state.
Practice: irregular plurals
According to this post, what is the correct plural form of the noun “crisis”?
How is the plural form, “crises,” typically pronounced?
“Crisis” entered English via Latin from which earlier language?
Which word forms its plural similarly to “crisis”?
Which sentence correctly uses a form of “crisis”?
She was dealing with a family at the time.
They discussed the multiple environmental affecting the planet.
The company is struggling with several financial .
Most people blame the government for the country’s worsening economic .
A succession of economic had limited the money available.
FAQs
What is the plural form of “crisis”? +
How is the plural “crises” pronounced? +
Why does the plural of crisis change? +
When do I use “crisis” or “crises”? +
What’s a common mistake? +
Sources
- “Predicament, N., Sense 1.” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, December 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/6918751737.
- “Rubicon, N.” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, December 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/8352260470.
Yash, D. "How to Use Crisis Plural (Crisis, Crisises?)." Grammarflex, Sep 21, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/crisis-plural/.
