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
Ingrid LawA 12-year-old girl was in critical condition today at Children's Hospital with the rare but often deadly hantavirus.—The New York Times
The New York TimesExamples of critical condition in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Both officers were initially listed in critical condition, but by Friday afternoon were in stable condition at area hospitals, officials said.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 28 Dec. 2025
He was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to police.
—Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 27 Dec. 2025
The Tuesday afternoon blast sent 20 others to hospitals, including one person in critical condition.
—Arkansas Online, 25 Dec. 2025
Browning also died of fatal injuries at the scene, police added, while a passenger in her car was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for critical condition
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Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 28 Dec. 2025
He was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to police.
—Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 27 Dec. 2025
The Tuesday afternoon blast sent 20 others to hospitals, including one person in critical condition.
—Arkansas Online, 25 Dec. 2025
Browning also died of fatal injuries at the scene, police added, while a passenger in her car was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for critical condition
Cite this Entry
“Critical condition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critical%20condition. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Douglas M. Campbell and Rita Dadiz, Seminars in PerinatologyThe 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
Jing Huang et al., Clinical Infectious DiseasesLove words? Need even more definitions?
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