Kritický

Kritický is a Czech adjective meaning relating to criticism or judgment, and in certain contexts also indicating something crucial or decisive. It is used to describe opinions, analyses, or evaluations that involve careful scrutiny, as in kritický názor (critical opinion), kritické myšlení (critical thinking), or kritické zhodnocení (critical assessment). In everyday language it can also denote urgency or importance when something is pivotal, for example kritický okamžik (crucial moment), kritická situace (critical situation), or kritický stav (critical condition).

Etymology: The word derives from Greek kritikós, via Latin criticus, and entered Czech through historical contact with other European languages. It has cognates in many Slavic languages (Polish krytyczny, Russian kriticheskiy). The Czech form kritický is an adjective that agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case; typical base forms are kritický (masc. sg.), kritická (fem. sg.), kritické (neut. sg.), with corresponding plural forms.

Usage: As a general descriptor, kritický denotes requiring careful judgment or analysis. In philosophy it appears in compounds such as kritický racionalismus and kritický idealismus to indicate positions that emphasize critical examination of knowledge. The adverb is kriticky; the comparative form is kritičtější and the superlative nejkritičtější.

See also: kritika, kritické myšlení, kritický stav, kritická situace.