krásis

Krísis (Greek: κρίσις) is a term whose core meaning is a decision, judgment, or turning point. The root is the Greek verb κρίνω, to separate or judge, and κρίσις denotes a point at which a choice or critical evaluation is made. In many languages the form crisis is used; some transliterations write krísis to indicate the stress on the second syllable.

In ancient medicine, krísis described the moment when a disease either began to improve or to decline— a decisive change that could determine survival. Over time the term 'crisis' spread to Latin and other languages with the same sense. In contemporary medicine the term is still used in some contexts but is often replaced by terms like turning point, resolution, or the course of disease.

Today, krísis commonly refers to a turning point in any system or process. In economics and finance a crisis denotes a period of severe distress or instability (for example, a financial crisis or sovereign debt crisis). In politics and international relations a crisis is a tense situation that threatens basic interests or requires urgent decision-making. In sociology, psychology, and organizational theory the concept is used to describe moments of potential transformation in individuals, groups, or institutions.

Because of its long history and wide use, the term crisis is often paired with adjectives to specify domain and severity, such as economic crisis, health crisis, or political crisis.