kritikós

Kritikós (Greek: κριτικός) is a Greek term used as both a noun and an adjective, commonly rendered in English as “critic” or “judge.” It derives from the verb krínein, meaning to judge, decide, or discern, and is related to the noun kritēs, “judge” or “juror.”

In Classical Greek, kritikós described someone with discerning judgment, often applied to philosophers, rhetoricians, or jurors who could assess arguments or evidence. The sense of judging or evaluating is evident in the root krínein and in the related noun kritēs.

In modern Greek, the word survives in several forms. The noun kritikós (κριτικός) denotes a person who reviews or critiques art, literature, film, and other media; the noun kritikí (κριτική) means criticism or a critique; the adjective kritikós means “critical” or “judgmental,” depending on context.

The term’s influence extends into other languages through its Greek roots, contributing to the broader family of words for evaluation and analysis, including the English “critic” and “critical,” which trace back through Latin and French from ancient Greek concepts of discernment and judgment.