critical condition

American  

[krit-i-kuhl kuhn-dish-uhn] / ˈkrɪt ɪ kəl kənˈdɪʃ ən /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of critical condition

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

Example Sentences

An 81-year-old man is in critical condition after he was hit by a 14-year-old boy on an electric motorcycle near an Orange County high school, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

She also had been been separated from her mother and was severely emaciated and in critical condition when she was found on the side of a road.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

He said 14 people were taken to hospitals where three remain in critical condition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

A toddler in Italy remains in critical condition after undergoing a transplant with a damaged heart.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

Virginia DiAngelo is reported in good condition this morning at Easton General Hospital, while Benjamin, who was flown to the pediatric intensive care unit at Children’s Hospital, remains in critical condition.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings