# extremity

/ɛkˈstɹɛməti/ (US) · /ɛkstɹˈɛmɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/extremity
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. furthest point

noun · CEFR B2

the furthest part or the very end of something.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. hands and feet

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a hand or a foot; the parts of your body furthest from the center.

For teachers: 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'.

### 3. extreme situation

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

a state of great danger, pain, or very strong feeling.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- He suffered a serious injury to the extremity of his leg.
- The doctor checked the patient's extremities to see if they were still warm and responsive.
- The situation reached a point of such extremity that the committee felt it was necessary to intervene before any permanent damage was done to the project.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.