critical period

noun

A maturational stage in the lifespan of an organism during which the nervous system is especially sensitive to certain environmental stimuli.

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Meanings

nouncritical period (plural critical periods)

plural critical periods

  1. biologyA maturational stage in the lifespan of an organism during which the nervous system is especially sensitive to certain environmental stimuli.
  2. human sciencesAccording to a disputed hypothesis, the limited period — before reaching a certain age — in which a person can achieve native-like fluency in a language.
Cite this entry
APA

critical period. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/critical%20period

MLA

“critical period.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/critical%20period. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “critical period,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/critical%20period.

Source: critical period on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.