critical care
noun
1
: the monitoring and treatment of critically ill or injured patients : intensive care
Critical care involves the use of life-sustaining, high-technology medicine catering to a patient population that extends to both extremes of age. In adult ICUs, the average age is increasing and is now commonly well over 60 years.—
Simon Finfer and Jean-Louis Vincent
Simon Finfer and Jean-Louis Vincent2
: a designated area of a hospital providing critical care : intensive care unit
The death toll rose from six to at least 12, with scores of people needing hospital treatment and some in critical care.—Heather Brooke
—often hyphenated when used before another nounHeather Brookecritical-care nursing
a critical-care bed
see also critical care unit
Examples of critical care in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The zoo's veterinary team intervened and provided critical care.
—Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Each fire district, composed mostly of volunteers, steps up to ensure people’s survival as ambulances need at least 30 minutes to reach residents to provide critical care.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2025
Sadly, many owners cannot afford the critical care their beloved pets need to survive.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2025
Expanding telehealth capabilities: Improving access to expert critical care allows healthcare providers to deliver specialized medical expertise across various geographic regions, reducing disparities in access.
—Corey Scurlock, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for critical care
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Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Each fire district, composed mostly of volunteers, steps up to ensure people’s survival as ambulances need at least 30 minutes to reach residents to provide critical care.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2025
Sadly, many owners cannot afford the critical care their beloved pets need to survive.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2025
Expanding telehealth capabilities: Improving access to expert critical care allows healthcare providers to deliver specialized medical expertise across various geographic regions, reducing disparities in access.
—Corey Scurlock, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for critical care
Cite this Entry
“Critical care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critical%20care. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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