extremity
gb/ɛkstɹˈɛmɪti/ us/ɛkstɹˈɛmɪti/
B1
English
~ 4900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Outermost part of the body
A hand, foot, arm, or leg, especially the furthest part from the body.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s extremities
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'extremity' with 'extreme'; 'extremity' refers to a physical body part in this sense.
Synonyms
limb (More general term for an arm or leg; does not necessarily include hands or feet separately.)
Antonyms
torso (The central part of the body, opposite to its outermost parts.)
Collocations
cold extremities
|numb extremities
|upper extremities
|lower extremities
Themes
anatomy
|health
|daily life
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The patient had no feeling in his extremities due to frostbite.
- Her fingers and toes were the first extremities to get cold.
- The doctor examined the patient's upper and lower extremities for injuries.
Learner examples
- My hands and feet are cold. They are my extremities.
- Gloves protect your extremities in winter.
- The doctor checked my arms and legs. These are my extremities.
Noun
B2
entity
2
Farthest point or limit
The furthest point or edge of something.
Usage pattern:
the extremity of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'extreme', which can mean very great in degree, rather than location.
Synonyms
edge (Common term for the boundary or outer limit of something; less formal than 'extremity'.)
Antonyms
center (The middle point, opposite to the outermost point.)
Collocations
at the extremity
|southern extremity
|northern extremity
Themes
geography
|navigation
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We reached the southern extremity of the island at sunset.
- A lighthouse stands at the extremity of the pier.
- The village lies at the northern extremity of the valley.
Learner examples
- The tree grows at the extremity of the garden.
- There is a small house at the extremity of the road.
- The boat is at the extremity of the dock.
Noun
C1
state
3
Serious difficulty or danger
A time when someone is in serious trouble or danger.
Usage pattern:
in an extremity
Common mistake:
Learners may mistakenly use 'extremity' here to mean 'extreme' as an adjective; context should make it clear it's a noun meaning hardship.
Synonyms
crisis (A critical and urgent situation; often used more broadly.)
Antonyms
safety (A condition free from danger or distress.)
Collocations
in an extremity
|faced with extremity
Themes
emergencies
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- In their extremity, they called for help from strangers.
- The sailors were in great extremity during the storm.
- She kept calm even in the worst extremities.
Learner examples
- They were in great extremity after the car broke down far from home.
- In an extremity, you should call for help.
- He stayed calm in an extremity.
Noun
formal
C1
quantity
4
Greatest possible degree
The highest level something can reach.
Usage pattern:
to the extremity of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes overuse this formal sense in casual contexts where 'limit' or 'maximum' would be more natural.
Synonyms
limit (A point beyond which something cannot go; less formal.)
Antonyms
moderation (A balanced state avoiding extremes.)
Collocations
to the extremity
|extremity of punishment
Themes
measurement
|intensity
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He pushed his endurance to the very extremity.
- The law allows for punishment to this extremity only in rare cases.
- Their patience was tested to its extremity.
Learner examples
- He worked to the extremity of his strength.
- We reached the extremity of what we could do.
- The punishment was at its extremity.
Grammar
Dictionary form
extremity
IPA
GB/ɛkstɹˈɛmɪti/
US/ɛkstɹˈɛmɪti/
Syllables & stress
ex - tremity (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tremity)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: extremity
- Plural: extremities, extremity
Word family
Expressions
in the last extremity
1/ˈɪn ðə lˈæst ɛkstɹˈɛmɪti/
idiom
formal
At the final stage of danger/difficulty
At the very end, when you are almost out of time or options and in great danger or trouble.
Examples
- In the last extremity, they decided to abandon the ship.
- Only in the last extremity would they consider surrender.