critical point

noun

: a point on the graph of a function where the derivative is zero or infinite

Examples of critical point in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The critical point for employers is that long Covid can be a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Michelle Travis, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Organ Damage From Covid The CDC and proponents of reducing isolation don’t mention one critical point—the tissue damage from Covid-19. Judy Stone, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The most critical points for the Rams might be the ones that are most taken for granted. Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2024 Cincinnati came away with zero points on one of their most promising drives at a critical point in the game. The Enquirer, 1 Jan. 2024 But Beal was excellent, scoring 24 points on 11 of 16 shooting including eight critical points on 4 of 6 shooting in the fourth quarter. Dustin Dopirak, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Jan. 2024 The underlying code in both tools incorporates a software package known as Microsoft Detours to interrupt the driver signing process at critical points so that key pieces of data may be modified during the stop. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 11 July 2023 Glasgow and coal Six years after Paris, global warming had hit such a critical point that negotiators were looking to recommit to the goal of capping warming to the levels agreed in 2015. Sibi Arasu, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2023 Transmitting over hundreds of millions of miles would require much, much larger radio antennas than could be built. NASA works with a global network of radio antennas known as the Deep Space Network, but the data demands on that system have reached a critical point. Ramin Skibba, WIRED, 13 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'critical point.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of critical point was in 1848

Dictionary Entries Near critical point

Cite this Entry

“Critical point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critical%20point. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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