Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not critical; not involving or requiring careful judgment or evaluation: Describes something that does not demand high standards, strict analysis, or urgent attention. It can imply a lack of criticism or a relaxed, uncritical attitude.
   • Not in a state of crisis or emergency: Describes a situation, condition, or patient that is stable and not serious or dangerous.
   • Not at a point of abrupt change: In physics or mathematics, describes a state that is not characterized by a critical point, phase transition, or sudden instability.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The manager considered the formatting issue to be a noncritical bug that could be fixed in the next update.
  • After observation, the doctor confirmed the patient's condition was noncritical and discharged her.
  • The system administrator prioritized noncritical server maintenance for the weekend.

Advanced Usage

• "noncritical thinking": A mode of thinking that accepts information or situations without analysis or skepticism.
  • The propaganda relied on the audience's noncritical thinking to be effective.
• "noncritical system": In engineering, a system whose failure would not result in a catastrophic outcome.
  • The entertainment console is a noncritical system in the aircraft.

Variants and Related Words

• Uncritical (adj): Often used synonymously with the first meaning ("not critical"), specifically indicating a lack of analytical judgment or disapproval.
  • He was an uncritical admirer of the author's work.
• Nonessential (adj): Not absolutely necessary. While similar, "noncritical" often relates to priority or urgency, whereas "nonessential" relates to necessity.
• Stable (adj): A close synonym for the medical/emergency meaning of "noncritical."

Synonyms

• Uncritical: Lacking in analytical judgment.
• Minor: Of little importance or seriousness.
• Routine: Ordinary, not involving special procedures or urgency.
• Stable: Not likely to change or fail; steady.

Antonyms

• Critical: Of the greatest importance; involving crisis or careful judgment.
• Crucial: Decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of something.
• Urgent: Requiring immediate action or attention.
• Essential: Absolutely necessary; extremely important.

Adjective

1. marked by disregard for critical standards or procedures
   • news sources reflected uncritical estimates of the number of juvenile addicts
2. not in a state of crisis or emergency
3. not critical; not at a point of abrupt change