exigent circumstance

noun

A circumstance, such as imminent danger or imminent escape of a suspect, that allows law enforcement to enter a structure without a search warrant, or if they have a knock-and-announce warrant, to enter without knocking and waiting for the owner's permission to enter.

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Meanings

nounexigent circumstance (plural exigent circumstances)

plural exigent circumstances

  1. lawA circumstance, such as imminent danger or imminent escape of a suspect, that allows law enforcement to enter a structure without a search warrant, or if they have a knock-and-announce warrant, to enter without knocking and waiting for the owner's permission to enter.

Translations

Polish wyjątkowa sytuacja
  • wyjątkowa sytuacjaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

exigent circumstance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/exigent%20circumstance

MLA

“exigent circumstance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/exigent%20circumstance. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “exigent circumstance,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/exigent%20circumstance.

Source: exigent circumstance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.