criticality

noun

crit·​i·​cal·​i·​ty ˌkri-tə-ˈka-lə-tē How to pronounce criticality (audio)
: a critical quality, state, or nature
The true criticality of that basic political rationale is being demonstrated in the 1990s.Colin S. Gray
But the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security, in a report released Tuesday, found that the list was not child's play: all these "unusual or out-of-place" sites "whose criticality is not readily apparent" are inexplicably included in the official federal antiterrorism database.Eric Lipton
specifically, physics : the state in which a mass of fissionable material sustains or is able to sustain a nuclear chain reaction
Criticality can be achieved by increasing mass (adding more plutonium) or … by compressing a barely subcritical mass to increase its density. Daniel J. Lenihan
How big is a critical mass? That depends on the proportion of fissile material and on its shape and configuration. Surrounding the mass with a neutron-reflecting substance further reduces the size needed for criticality, by returning neutrons that would otherwise escape. Richard Wolfson

Examples of criticality in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Initial dry criticality is expected to follow in 2027, in which MARVEL will achieve a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction before the coolant is loaded. IEEE Spectrum, 30 June 2025 Determine asset criticality for predictive maintenance investment. Ed Garibian, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 That data—whether captured before, during, or after a sporting event—has a level of sovereign criticality to drive winning or even explain losing. Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 22 May 2025 In particular, the prevalence of vulnerabilities in manageability interfaces and the criticality of privileged access merits strong segmentation of these interfaces. Yuriy Bulygin, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for criticality

Word History

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of criticality was in 1763

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Cite this Entry

“Criticality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criticality. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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