critical condition

[krit-i-kuhl kuhn-dish-uhn]

noun

1. Medicine/Medical.,  an unstable state, resulting from severe illness or injury, in which the patient’s vital signs and other symptoms indicate a significant risk of death.

   An 80-year-old man with serious head injuries was rushed from the accident scene to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

2. a state of serious disrepair or disarray.

   After years of underfunding, the city’s infrastructure is in critical condition.

Word History and Origins

Origin of critical condition¹

First recorded in 1860–65 critical condition for def. 1; 1950–55 critical condition for def. 2