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

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

The family’s bearded dragon survived after spending 24 hours in critical care, officials said. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 14 July 2026

The family's bearded dragon was later found alive and survived after 24 hours in critical care. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026

The transport team is made up of experienced critical care paramedics who have received additional pediatric and neonatal training. — Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 13 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