Dictionary

crisitunity en · NOUN

Etymology

Blend of crisis + opportunity; introduced as a gag in the animated television series The Simpsons (season 6, episode 11, "Fear of Flying", first broadcast on 18 December 1994): * LISA: Look on the bright side, Dad. Did you know that the Chinese use the same word for "crisis" as they do for "opportunity"? * HOMER: Yes. "Crisitunity"! You're right.

Meanings

1. (informal, rare) A crisis from which some good may come, and which may therefore be perceived as an opportunity.
   • Would it help to say that we misunderestimated the effects of Frankenfood and mutagenic smog, to speculate that amid all our infornography and anticipointment, some crisitunity slumbered unnoticed in a roadside motel? 2010, Nick Lantz, The Lightning That Strikes the Neighbors’ House, page 25:
   • Communicate the “crisitunity.” Originally coined by Homer Simpson, a “crisitunity” is the moment when crisis meets opportunity—and it has a slightly better ring than “opporisis.” Regardless of the word choice, the principle is straightforward: by communicating a time-sensitive problem your organization faces, along with how your online community can help solve the problem, people will be motivated to act. 2011, Darian Rodriguez Heyman, Nonprofit Management 101, page 267:
   • In addition to the challenges of Chinese lending raised above, the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) presents another possibility for crisitunity (crisis-opportunity) in Africa. 2021, Gorden Moyo, African Agency, Finance and Developmental States, page 116:
   • On lost crisitunities, vanishing post-Soviet and decolonization of thinking, being and perception. 2017, Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo of Zimbabwe: Politics, Power, and Memory, page 147:

Forms

Relateds

never waste a crisis