critical mass

noun

: a size, number, or amount large enough to produce a particular result
the critical mass of activity needed for a retail store

Examples of critical mass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Broad enterprise cloud adoption took nearly two decades to reach critical mass, as organisations embraced new disciplines like DevOps and FinOps, shifted infrastructure spending from capital to operating expenditure, and gradually moved mission-critical workloads to the cloud. CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026 If the Canucks can make this losing count over the next few years and assemble a critical mass of talent with the sort of character and skill that drips off this young Canadiens side, then the organization has a chance to build something magical. Thomas Drance, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026 But since management itself is built on menace foundations, transformation at scale will require a critical mass of moral muses in business. Valerie L. Myers, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2026 That critical mass of riders who collectively deter crime and create a more secure transit experience looms as the ultimate solution to challenges that the RTD and other transit agencies face, especially when extreme weather hits. Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 7 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for critical mass

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of critical mass was in 1947

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Cite this Entry

“Critical mass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critical%20mass. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

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