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

Left untreated, sepsis can lead to organ failure, tissue damage requiring amputation, septic shock and death. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025

Additionally, Black patients are more susceptible to keloid scarring, and a 2020 cross-specialty study of surgical patients found that Black patients had a higher rate of sepsis or septic shock compared to White patients. —Essence, 24 Sep. 2025

Nine days after being taken to the hospital, the woman died from septic shock due to acute pancreatitis, the release said. —Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2025

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