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

The cause of his death, in a hospital, was septic shock after a series of unsuccessful lung surgeries, his wife, Mimi Fisher, said. —Alex Williams, New York Times, 20 May 2025

Doctors failing to recognize her deteriorating condition led to septic shock and acute respiratory failure, the lawsuit claims. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2025

After suffering from tonsillitis, the star’s condition led to septic shock, a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when an infection in the body causes extremely low blood pressure and organ failure due to sepsis, according to the Mayo Clinic. —Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025

In one incident, the complaint alleges Jong was talking with subordinates about Dodgers baseball legend Fernando Valenzuela’s death from septic shock. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 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