critical condition
Americannoun
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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.
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a state of serious disrepair or disarray.
After years of underfunding, the city’s infrastructure is in critical condition.
Etymology
Origin of critical condition
First recorded in 1860–65 critical condition for def. 1; 1950–55 critical condition for def. 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After undergoing complex heart surgery in mid-August, the baby remains in critical condition.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Two others remain in critical condition while one is in stable condition, she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Five other people were injured, including three who remained in critical condition, Miami-Dade officials said.
From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026
"I lost my baby, but I am here today because my wife is in critical condition," Idrees Khan told AFP as his eyes welled up in tears.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
She was in critical condition, and there was no way of knowing what the outcome would be.
From "Silent To The Bone" by E.L. Konigsburg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
