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.
Saturday Rev.
b
: the utmost degree (as of emotion or pain)
4
: a drastic or desperate act or measure
driven to extremities
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
Once at the hospital, he was put on dialysis, and emergency surgery was done to help relieve pressure building in his extremities, according to ESPN.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Blue or Red Skin in One Limb A blood clot within an extremity vein can cause the skin to turn pinkish, reddish, or discolored.3 This change in skin color is due to inflammation of the surrounding tissues caused by restricting blood flow back up to the heart.
—Alicen Nelson Md, Verywell Health, 27 Mar. 2025
Few individual animals have ever been more important to their species than 2323M — a red wolf, dubbed Airplane Ears by advocates for his prominent extremities, who spent his brief but fruitful life on North Carolina’s Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
—Ben Goldfarb, Vox, 14 Mar. 2025
Their conditions weren't life-threatening, and included a range of injuries from bumps and bruises to fractured extremities, Dallas Fire-Rescue Public Information Officer Jason Evans said in a statement to USA TODAY.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extremity
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Blue or Red Skin in One Limb A blood clot within an extremity vein can cause the skin to turn pinkish, reddish, or discolored.3 This change in skin color is due to inflammation of the surrounding tissues caused by restricting blood flow back up to the heart.
—Alicen Nelson Md, Verywell Health, 27 Mar. 2025
Few individual animals have ever been more important to their species than 2323M — a red wolf, dubbed Airplane Ears by advocates for his prominent extremities, who spent his brief but fruitful life on North Carolina’s Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.
—Ben Goldfarb, Vox, 14 Mar. 2025
Their conditions weren't life-threatening, and included a range of injuries from bumps and bruises to fractured extremities, Dallas Fire-Rescue Public Information Officer Jason Evans said in a statement to USA TODAY.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extremity
Cite this Entry
“Extremity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extremity. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share