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

This causes a severe inflammatory response by the immune system known as septic shock. —Francisco J. Rivera Rosario, Health, 11 Mar. 2025

Complications - Bird flu can lead to complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, multi-organ failure (respiratory and kidney failure), sepsis or septic shock. —Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025

More severe symptoms are septic shock and renal failure. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025

And as recently as January, she was hospitalized for a month for septic shock—the doctors saw little chance of recovery. —Theresa Pichler, Glamour, 23 Dec. 2024

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