subcritical

adjective

sub·​crit·​i·​cal ˌsəb-ˈkri-ti-kəl 

1

: less or lower than critical in respect to a specified factor

2

a

: of insufficient size to sustain a chain reaction

a subcritical mass of fissionable material

b

: designed for use with fissionable material of subcritical mass

a subcritical reactor

Examples of subcritical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The physical configuration achieves passive safety operational profiles by relying on subcritical physics variables and inherent material limitations. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026

The laboratories were thus limited to subcritical experiments, which would not generate a sustained nuclear reaction. — Siegfried Hecker, Foreign Affairs, 26 Nov. 2025

Norman Kleiman, an associate professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University, said nuclear testing can range from nonradioactive, known as subcritical, to incredibly radioactive. — Daniel Manzo, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2025

The idea of producing a nuclear explosion by bringing together two subcritical masses of uranium had already been proposed outside the USSR. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for subcritical

• levitical
• noncritical
• political
• uncritical
• analytical
• apolitical
• diacritical
• hypercritical
• hypocritical
• nonpolitical
• parasitical
• supercritical