1. A pressing or urgent situation
   "The exigence of the flooding required immediate evacuation";
   - exigency
    
2. A sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
   "The exigence of the flooding required swift evacuation";
   - emergency, exigency, pinch
    
3. That which is required in a particular situation — usually used in plural
   "The trench maps used in the Great War resulted from the exigences of war.";
   - exigency

Derived forms: exigences

Type of: crisis, necessity

Encyclopedia: Exigence