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
Ingrid LawA 12-year-old girl was in critical condition today at Children's Hospital with the rare but often deadly hantavirus.—The New York Times
The New York TimesExamples of critical condition in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
She was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition and underwent emergency surgery, during which doctors removed part of her skull to relieve swelling.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Semple, 29, was pronounced dead upon arrival, while Simpson, 40, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
The driver, who police had not named at the time of reporting, was in critical condition and was transported to a hospital, but the woman passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 24 Oct. 2025
The man was in critical condition at an area hospital after the police shooting.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for critical condition
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.
Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Semple, 29, was pronounced dead upon arrival, while Simpson, 40, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
The driver, who police had not named at the time of reporting, was in critical condition and was transported to a hospital, but the woman passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 24 Oct. 2025
The man was in critical condition at an area hospital after the police shooting.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for critical condition
Cite this Entry
“Critical condition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critical%20condition. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Douglas M. Campbell and Rita Dadiz, Seminars in PerinatologyThe 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
Jing Huang et al., Clinical Infectious DiseasesLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share