To save this word, you'll need to log in.
crit·i·cal stage
Legal Definition of critical stage
: a stage in a criminal proceeding at which the accused's rights or defenses may be affected and which triggers the Sixth Amendment right to counsel
Comments on critical stage
What made you want to look up critical stage? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
A More Exception(al) Quiz
- Which of the following words is not a synonym for ‘a young person’?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share critical stage