critical

Where “critical” sits in English frequency

Definition

1. 1
   Inclined to find fault or criticize.
2. 2
   Pertaining to, or indicating, a crisis or turning point.
3. 3
   Extremely important.
4. 4
   Relating to criticism or careful analysis, such as literary or film criticism.
5. 5
   Relating to criticism or careful analysis, such as literary or film criticism.
6. 6
   Of a patient condition involving unstable vital signs and a prognosis that predicts the condition could worsen; or, a patient condition that requires urgent treatment in an intensive care or critical care medical facility.
7. 7
   In such a condition.
8. 8
   Likely to go out of control if disturbed, that is, opposite of stable.
9. 9
   Of the point (in temperature, reagent concentration etc.) where a nuclear or chemical reaction becomes self-sustaining.
10. 10
    Of a temperature that is equal to the temperature of the critical point of a substance, i.e. the temperature above which the substance cannot be liquefied.
11. 11
    Needing great discrimination to be correctly classified; easily confused.

Etymology

From Latin criticus + -al, from Ancient Greek κριτικός (kritikós, “of or for judging, able to discern”), from κρίνω (krínō, “to separate, judge”); also the root of crisis.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccritical,cirtical,criitcal,critcial,critiacl,criticall,criticcal,criticla,crittical,crritical,crtiical,rcitical

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of critical - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

Frequently Asked Questions