crisis
noun [ C or U ]
uk/ˈkraɪsɪs/ usplural crises /ˈkraɪsiːz/a situation that is extremely difficult or dangerous, when there are many problems:
a major/serious/global crisis
an economic/financial/political crisis
a looming/impending/growing crisis This matter needs to be discussed, in the light of the looming pensions crisis.
cause/create a crisis The ban, fortunately, did not create a crisis in the dairy industry.
face a crisis The industry is facing a serious staffing crisis.
a crisis arises/occurs/deepens This article examines how the debt crisis arose,
address/resolve/solve a crisis A mediator has been called in to resolve the crisis.
The country's leadership is in crisis.
crisis of confidence
a situation when people become less confident and start to worry:
The company's poor trading figures provoked a crisis of confidence on the stock markets.