krytyczna

Krytyczna is the feminine singular form of the Polish adjective krytyczny, meaning "critical" or "crucial." It agrees with feminine nouns, as in krytyczna ocena (critical assessment) or krytyczna analiza (critical analysis). The root also yields krytyczny (masculine) and krytyczne (neuter); the adverbial form is krytycznie.

In usage, krytyczna conveys an evaluative stance (being critical) and can express urgency or importance (being crucial) depending on context. Common phrases include krytyczna ocena filmu (a critical assessment of a film), krytyczna analiza tekstu (a critical analysis of a text), and krytyczna recepcja dzieła (the critical reception of a work). In academic or cultural discourse the term often marks a reasoned judgment rather than mere disapproval.

Different domains employ the term with specific sense. In medicine, stan krytyczny means a life-threatening condition (the masculine form stan krytyczny is used with masculine nouns). In physics, masa krytyczna means "critical mass." The notion of timing or decisiveness is captured in phrases like krytyczny moment (a crucial moment).

Etymology and grammar: krytyczny derives from Greek kritikos, via Latin criticus, into Polish with the sense related to judgment and evaluation. The adjective forms agree with gender and number, and the related noun krytyka denotes criticism or critical discussion.

See also: krytyka (criticism), krytyczny (masc.), krytyczna (fem.), krytyczne (neut.).