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

His death certificate lists septic shock as cause of death. —Jessica Van Egeren, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025

Fetus died at 19 to 20 weeks, lawsuit states Maddox went to an Orlando hospital on June 13 after exhibiting symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and chills that led to septic shock and severe dehydration, according to the suit. —Mark Harper, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025

Otherwise the risk is that the disease could progress to life-threatening problems like respiratory failure, septic shock or acute kidney failure. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025

Shock: Types include anaphylactic shock (life-threatening allergic reaction), septic shock (life-threatening reaction to a severe infection), or hemorrhagic shock (sudden and significant loss of blood). —Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 2 Aug. 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