critical condition

noun

plural critical conditions
medical : a serious state in which an ill or injured individual has dangerously unstable or abnormal vital signs and typically requires short-term life support measures (such as mechanical respiration or defibrillation) for stabilization and support prior to or during recovery
The man sustained serious injuries and is still unconscious and in critical condition at Salina Hope Hospital.—Ingrid Law
A 12-year-old girl was in critical condition today at Children's Hospital with the rare but often deadly hantavirus.—The New York Times

Examples of critical condition in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The child was then transported to Arkansas Children's Hospital and remained in critical condition Friday afternoon, the post said. — Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2026 Tooro authorities had assured Ugandans that Oyo remained alive but in critical condition, forcing many Ugandans to suddenly come to terms with his death at a relatively young age. — Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 The victim was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, police said. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026 Greer remains in critical condition in a coma, hooked up to a ventilator and feeding tube that are keeping her alive. — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for critical condition

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of critical condition was in 1815

Rhymes for critical condition

See All Rhymes for critical condition

Browse Nearby Words

critical coefficient
critical condition
critical constant
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Cite this Entry

“Critical condition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critical%20condition. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Medical Definition

critical condition

noun
: a serious medical state in which an ill or injured individual has dangerously unstable or abnormal vital signs and typically requires short-term life support measures (such as mechanical respiration or defibrillation) for stabilization and support prior to or during recovery
The safe transport of infants in critical condition requires highly reliable inter-professional transport teams that are equipped with the expertise to provide neonatal care in unfamiliar and resource-limited environments.—Douglas M. Campbell and Rita Dadiz, Seminars in Perinatology
The large number of patients with COVID-19, suspected cases, hospitalizations, and patients in critical condition has made the medical work incredibly hard.—Jing Huang et al., Clinical Infectious Diseases
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