exigent circumstance

exigent circumstance (plural exigent circumstances)

1. (law) 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.

• doctrine of necessity
• extenuating circumstance
• no-knock warrant

• “exigent circumstance”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.