critical care

noun

1

: the monitoring and treatment of critically ill or injured patients : intensive care

Critical care involves the use of life-sustaining, high-technology medicine catering to a patient population that extends to both extremes of age. In adult ICUs, the average age is increasing and is now commonly well over 60 years.

—Simon Finfer and Jean-Louis Vincent

2

: a designated area of a hospital providing critical care : intensive care unit

The death toll rose from six to at least 12, with scores of people needing hospital treatment and some in critical care.

—Heather Brooke

—often hyphenated when used before another noun

critical-care nursing

a critical-care bed

see also critical care unit

Examples of critical care in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, changes in patient flow management improved access to critical care capacity while allowing surgical activity to grow. — Eugene Litvak, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026

The motion passed with support, emphasizing the need for stable funding to maintain critical care services. — Jasmine Viel, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

In Las Vegas, four months were enough for Mayor Shelley Berkley to bring critical care to 1,000 residents experiencing homelessness and a home to 242 more. — William Cogswell, Time, 24 July 2026

Shapiro earned his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in the Caribbean and completed a fellowship in surgical critical care at University of Cincinnati Medical Center, according to professional biographies. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for critical care

• concessionaire
• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare

Kids Definition

critical care

noun

: intensive care

Medical Definition

critical care

noun

1

: the monitoring and treatment of critically ill or injured patients : intensive care sense 1

The present ICU is unrecognizable from that of 40 years ago in terms of technology. … The focus of critical care has also shifted somewhat, with patient management becoming less invasive whenever possible, less interventional, and more humane.

—Jean-Louis Vincent, Critical Care

2

: a designated area of a hospital providing critical care : intensive care unit

Candida isolation on admission to critical care is associated with increased severity, but treating with antifungals does not improve outcomes …

—Rachael Cusack et al., Antibiotics

—often hyphenated when used before another noun

critical-care beds

see also critical care unit