critical failure

USAGE SUMMARY

"critical failure" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means a serious or severe failure that has significant consequences. Example: The company suffered a critical failure when their new product was recalled due to safety concerns, causing a major blow to their reputation and resulting in financial loss.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

While the film was a critical failure, his performance was generally well received by critics.

Wikipedia

Hospital officials called this "the critical failure".

The New York Times

From the start, Iraq was a critical failure of accountability.

The New York Times

Theater lore has it that the critical failure of "Merrily" broke up the team.

The New York Times

An offshoot of a popular West Hollywood restaurant, it drew crowds but was a critical failure.

The New York Times - Food

Its commercial and critical failure showed that world sounds would not sit easily in the mainstream.

The Guardian - Music

But again, perhaps owing to some critical failure of empathy, I couldn't thrill to these scenes.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

For Senator McCain, the critical failure was an inability to broaden the electorate sufficiently.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The critical-failure time probability density functions fh of each critical-failure mode are general distributions.

Plosone

There are one or two critical-failure modes Fh.

Plosone

The reliability state R. The maintenance state M. The critical-failure time probability density functions fh of each critical-failure mode Fh.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer "critical failure" over alternatives when you want to emphasize the severity and potential ramifications of the issue.

Common error

Avoid using "critical failure" for minor inconveniences or easily rectifiable errors. This phrase should be reserved for situations where the consequences are significant and far-reaching.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "critical failure" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence, denoting a state of severe malfunction or breakdown with significant consequences. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

42%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "critical failure" is a common and grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe a severe malfunction or breakdown with significant consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Its frequency is high across diverse fields like news, science and general knowledge (Wikipedia). When writing, reserve "critical failure" for situations where the impact is truly substantial, and consider alternatives like "major malfunction" or "complete breakdown" for different shades of meaning. Remember, the phrase carries a weight of seriousness that should align with the situation it describes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major malfunction

Emphasizes a severe problem in functionality.

complete breakdown

Highlights the total cessation of operation or functionality.

significant deficiency

Focuses on a crucial lack or inadequacy.

fatal flaw

Points to an inherent weakness leading to inevitable failure.

catastrophic error

Emphasizes the disastrous consequences of a mistake.

systemic collapse

Suggests a widespread failure affecting an entire system.

total collapse

Highlights the complete and utter failure.

serious malfunction

Indicates a severe problem but not necessarily a complete failure.

grave shortcoming

Highlights a severe defect that impacts the overall quality.

decisive failing

Indicates a significant failure that determines an outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "critical failure" in a sentence?

You can use "critical failure" to describe a severe malfunction or breakdown. For instance, "The engine experienced a "critical failure", forcing the plane to make an emergency landing".

What's a less technical alternative to "critical failure"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "major breakdown", "complete collapse", or "significant deficiency" as less technical alternatives to "critical failure".

Is "critical failure" the same as "failure"?

No, "critical failure" implies a more severe and impactful breakdown than a simple "failure". A "critical failure" typically has significant consequences.

What fields commonly use the term "critical failure"?

"Critical failure" is commonly used in fields such as engineering, technology, project management, and healthcare to describe severe malfunctions, breakdowns, or errors that have serious consequences.