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
Smith had been pinned beneath the helicopter and was taken to UC Davis Medical Center in critical condition, officials said at the time.
—Sacbee.com, 11 Oct. 2025
The army veteran, 21, who is the mother of a 7-month-old girl, is currently in a critical condition.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
As of early Friday morning, occupants of the red Impala remained in critical condition, police said.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2025
Thomas Pack, 23, has been released from WellSpan York Hospital and is recovering at home, while Lucas Amarose, 31, is stable after being in critical condition and undergoing multiple hours of surgery at the hospital.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for critical condition
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Sacbee.com, 11 Oct. 2025
The army veteran, 21, who is the mother of a 7-month-old girl, is currently in a critical condition.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
As of early Friday morning, occupants of the red Impala remained in critical condition, police said.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2025
Thomas Pack, 23, has been released from WellSpan York Hospital and is recovering at home, while Lucas Amarose, 31, is stable after being in critical condition and undergoing multiple hours of surgery at the hospital.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 9 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 14 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?
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