exigent

[ek-si-juhnt]

adjective

1. requiring immediate action or aid; urgent; pressing.

2. requiring a great deal, or more than is reasonable.

exigent

/ ˈɛksɪdʒənt /

adjective

1. urgent; pressing

2. exacting; demanding

Other Word Forms

• exigently adverb
• nonexigent adjective
• nonexigently adverb
• unexigent adjective
• unexigently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of exigent¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin exigent- (stem of exigēns ) (present participle of exigere to drive out, demand), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + -ig- (combining form of agere to drive) + -ent- -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of exigent¹

C15: from Latin exigere to drive out, weigh out, from agere to drive, compel

Example Sentences

“Some people don’t want to have to get a long-term place,” she says, and signing a lease doesn’t allow any wiggle room for exigent circumstances.

From Salon

“Even a lay person has the common sense to see exigent circumstances exist to enter these homes,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

It says school officials “should not consent to access by an immigration enforcement officer unless he/she declares exigent circumstances or has a federal judicial warrant.”

From Los Angeles Times

Still, Bass is not the first California political leader to lead in absentia during a moment of exigent crisis.

From Los Angeles Times

For example, the City Council could still impose a hiring freeze at the commission, or even intervene in its spending plans, if it found there were “exigent circumstances.”

From Los Angeles Times