die Extremität
limb
In anatomy, a limb of the body, meaning an arm or a leg. Usually used in the plural.
EXAMPLE
Bei dem Unfall wurden seine unteren Extremitäten schwer verletzt.
His lower limbs were badly injured in the accident.
die Extremität
extremity
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Meanings
die Extremität
extremity
An extreme state, an extreme action, or a radical opinion. This meaning is rare and elevated in style.
EXAMPLE
Seine politischen Ansichten neigten zur Extremität und ließen keinen Raum für Kompromisse.
His political views tended toward extremity and left no room for compromise.
Usage tips
Word family
The word 'Extremität' (extremity) is closely related to the adjective 'extrem' (extreme). It originally referred to the outermost ends of something. In the anatomical sense, it means the outermost parts of the body: the arms and legs.
EXAMPLE
Die Temperaturen in der Wüste sind extrem.
Temperatures in the desert are extreme.
Medical terminology
'Extremität' (extremity/limb) is a technical term from medicine and anatomy. In normal everyday language, people use the words 'Arme' (arms) and 'Beine' (legs).
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt untersuchte die Schwellung an der rechten unteren Extremität.
The doctor examined the swelling on the right lower limb.
Use in the plural
The word is almost always used in the plural, 'die Extremitäten' (the extremities/limbs). A distinction is often made between the 'oberen Extremitäten' (upper limbs/arms) and the 'unteren Extremitäten' (lower limbs/legs).
EXAMPLE
Kaltes Wetter kann die Durchblutung in den Extremitäten beeinträchtigen.
Cold weather can affect circulation in the extremities.
Register and style
In this figurative meaning, 'Extremität' (extremity) is very rare and belongs to an elevated, almost literary style. It describes a radical attitude or action.
EXAMPLE
Sein Verhalten war von einer gewissen Extremität geprägt.
His behavior was marked by a certain extremity.
Compare with
Extremität vs extrem
extreme
Extrem is the usual, concise term for a radical position or an extreme state. Extremität can express the same idea as a noun, but in this meaning it sounds rare and elevated. Use extrem in normal speech and Extremität only in appropriately formal texts.
Extremität
Die Forderung nach einem vollständigen Verbot gilt als politische Extremität.
The demand for a complete ban is regarded as a political extremity.
extrem
Die Forderung nach einem vollständigen Verbot ist extrem.
The demand for a complete ban is extreme.
In real life
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