critical condition

noun

plural critical conditions
medical : a serious state in which an ill or injured individual has dangerously unstable or abnormal vital signs and typically requires short-term life support measures (such as mechanical respiration or defibrillation) for stabilization and support prior to or during recovery
The man sustained serious injuries and is still unconscious and in critical condition at Salina Hope Hospital.Ingrid Law
A 12-year-old girl was in critical condition today at Children's Hospital with the rare but often deadly hantavirus.The New York Times

Examples of critical condition in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Two people were in critical condition after the attack that occurred around 2 p.m. in the city's Chinatown-International District, police and a spokesperson for Harborview Medical Center said Friday. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 9 Nov. 2024 Two men and a child were injured and taken to the hospital, with one of the men and the child in critical condition. Karen Bartunek, The Arizona Republic, 29 Oct. 2024 One victim had a gunshot wound and was sent to the hospital in critical condition and the other suffered a cut, IMPD reported. John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Nov. 2024 Two were admitted to Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition and listed as stable later Friday morning, hospital spokesperson Marlei Martinez told CNN. Dalia Faheid, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for critical condition 

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of critical condition was in 1815

Dictionary Entries Near critical condition

Cite this Entry

“Critical condition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critical%20condition. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

critical condition

noun
: a serious medical state in which an ill or injured individual has dangerously unstable or abnormal vital signs and typically requires short-term life support measures (such as mechanical respiration or defibrillation) for stabilization and support prior to or during recovery
The safe transport of infants in critical condition requires highly reliable inter-professional transport teams that are equipped with the expertise to provide neonatal care in unfamiliar and resource-limited environments.Douglas M. Campbell and Rita Dadiz, Seminars in Perinatology
The large number of patients with COVID-19, suspected cases, hospitalizations, and patients in critical condition has made the medical work incredibly hard.Jing Huang et al., Clinical Infectious Diseases
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