Word
extremity
Phoneticsex·trem·i·ty, stress on the second syllable
US/ɛkˈstɹɛməti/
UK/ɛkstɹˈɛmɪti/
Definitions
01furthest point
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the furthest part or the very end of something.
n. the furthest point or limit of a physical object or geographical area.
“The lighthouse stands at the northern extremity of the island.”
“The explorers finally reached the southern extremity of the continent after months of navigating through treacherous ice fields.”
02hands and feet
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine Technical
n. a hand or a foot; the parts of your body furthest from the center.
n. a limb or distal appendage of the body, specifically a hand or foot.
“In very cold weather, you must protect your extremities like your fingers and toes.”
“The patient reported a tingling sensation in their extremities, particularly in the fingertips and soles of the feet.”
Usage
Usually used in the plural form 'extremities'.
03extreme situation
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal · Literary
n. a state of great danger, pain, or very strong feeling.
n. the highest degree of a quality, or a state of extreme necessity, suffering, or intense emotion.
“The refugees suffered the extremity of hunger during their long journey.”
“Driven to the last extremity by the siege, the city was forced to negotiate a surrender to avoid further starvation.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“The Boy of Cerro El Plomo, as he is known, showed no evidence of freezing prior to death, or any cold-related injuries to his extremities.” “Your heart rate increases, propelling more warm blood to your extremities and away from your organs.” Etymology
From Middle English extremite, from Old French extremité, from Latin extrēmitātem (“extremity; border, perimeter; ending”), from extrēmīs (“furthest, extreme”) + -itās (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -teh₂ts (suffix forming nouns indicating a state of being); see extreme. Extrēmīs is derived from exter (“external, outward”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₁eǵʰs (“out”)) + -issimus (superlative suffix) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -is- (comparative suffix) + -(t)m̥mo- (absolutive case suffix)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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