septic shock

noun

: a severe form of sepsis that is associated with profound, life-threatening circulatory, cellular, and metabolic abnormalities, that is marked especially by increased capillary permeability and vasodilation resulting in persistent, dangerously low blood pressure and reduced blood flow despite fluid administration, and that leads to multiple organ failure

By many estimates, sepsis—and its most severe form, septic shock—is the leading cause of death for intensive care patients in the U.S. and the 10th most common cause of death for everyone else in the country.

—Maryn McKenna

Examples of septic shock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Days later, Luka got an arterial line infection, causing septic shock. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025

Legionnaires’ can lead to severe complications, including lung failure requiring mechanical ventilation, kidney failure, total body infection resulting in septic shock, and death. —Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025

Gallagher was intubated for nearly a week after going into septic shock amid the infection. —Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025

The dad of seven, 38, shared that the Bringing Up Bates star, 34, has gone into septic shock following a severe UTI and kidney infection one week after welcoming her seventh baby. —Kayla Grant, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for septic shock

• aftershock
• antiknock
• arawak
• hollyhock
• interlock
• isopach
• manioc
• shuttlecock
• tomahawk
• weathercock
• alcock
• beanstalk

Medical Definition

septic shock

noun

: a severe form of sepsis that is associated with profound, life-threatening circulatory, cellular, and metabolic abnormalities, is marked especially by increased capillary permeability and vasodilation resulting in persistent, dangerously low blood and reduced blood flow pressure despite fluid administration, and that leads to multiple organ failure