kritikos

kritikos is a Greek term meaning “able to judge” or “a critic.” It derives from the verb krínein, “to judge,” and the noun kritēs, “judge.” The adjective kritikos is used to describe qualities of judgment or discernment, while the noun in Modern Greek, κριτικός (kritikos), denotes a person who evaluates or comments on works of art, literature, or performance, i.e., a critic, and can also refer to a judge in historical or legal contexts.

In English, kritikos is the root of several related words, including critic, critical, and critique. The word criterion also traces back to Greek kritērion, literally “a thing for judging,” and is used across disciplines to denote standards by which something is evaluated or measured.

In philosophical and literary contexts, a critic is someone who assesses and interprets a work, idea, or argument, often applying specific standards or theoretical frameworks. The concept of kritikos thus embodies the practice of judgment, analysis, and evaluation, whether in art, philosophy, or public discourse.

In modern usage, the Greek form kritikos appears as the descriptor for critical thinking and evaluation. In English-language texts, the related terms critic, critical, and critique are far more common. While κριτικός exists in Greek as a common noun and adjective, its use as a personal name or surname is not standard in English, though Greek naming conventions occasionally reflect the -ikos suffix.