septic shock

noun

: a severe form of sepsis that is associated with profound, life-threatening circulatory, cellular, and metabolic abnormalities, that is marked especially by increased capillary permeability and vasodilation resulting in persistent, dangerously low blood pressure and reduced blood flow despite fluid administration, and that leads to multiple organ failure

By many estimates, sepsis—and its most severe form, septic shock—is the leading cause of death for intensive care patients in the U.S. and the 10th most common cause of death for everyone else in the country.

—Maryn McKenna

Examples of septic shock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Holly Bennett doesn't remember the ambulance that rushed her to a Colorado hospital in septic shock, or the MRI that showed her back was riddled with abscesses, or the emergency surgery that saved her life. —Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026

Allen died at 65 of septic shock after a yearslong cancer battle. —Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026

Without treatment, sepsis can quickly lead to septic shock and multiple organ failure. —Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 20 Feb. 2026

The death certificate listed Fisher’s cause of death as septic shock, a bacterial infection, acute kidney failure and pneumonia. —Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 10 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for septic shock

• aftershock
• antiknock
• arawak
• hollyhock
• interlock
• isopach
• manioc
• shuttlecock
• tomahawk
• weathercock
• alcock
• beanstalk

Medical Definition

septic shock

noun

: a severe form of sepsis that is associated with profound, life-threatening circulatory, cellular, and metabolic abnormalities, is marked especially by increased capillary permeability and vasodilation resulting in persistent, dangerously low blood and reduced blood flow pressure despite fluid administration, and that leads to multiple organ failure