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

See Examples For:

critical condition

Nine of the injured people remain in a critical condition, authorities say.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

Two of those who were wounded were treated and released at the scene, three were in stable conditions, and two others were in critical condition as of Sunday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

A medical source said, under condition of anonymity, that Besigya was taken to hospital on Wednesday evening and said he was in a "critical condition and unresponsive".

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

Jackie, half of Big Bear’s beloved bald eagle couple, has been moved out of intensive care, an encouraging sign for the raptor who was rescued in critical condition earlier this month.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

Luis and Tino were hot and tired, but I was more like in critical condition.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor