# critique

/kɹəˈtik/ (US) · /kɹɪtˈiːk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/critique
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a detailed review

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

a written or spoken report that looks closely at the strengths and weaknesses of a piece of work.

For teachers: a detailed analysis and assessment of something, such as a literary work or a political theory. Countable in this sense.

- The professor gave me a helpful critique of my first essay.
- The journal published a devastating critique of the government's economic policy, highlighting several structural flaws that had been previously ignored.

Usage: Often takes the preposition 'of' before the subject being analyzed.

### 2. to evaluate closely

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

to examine something carefully and give your opinion on its quality.

For teachers: to examine and assess something in a detailed and analytical way. Transitive — takes a direct object.

- We spent the afternoon critiquing each other's paintings in the art studio.
- The committee was tasked to critique the proposed architectural designs before the final budget was approved by the board.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse 'critique' with 'criticize'. While 'criticize' often sounds negative, 'critique' is more neutral and suggests a professional or academic evaluation.

## Examples

- The professor gave a helpful critique of my essay.
- The architect published a sharp critique of the new city hall, arguing that it ignored the needs of local residents.
- Her latest book offers a devastating critique of modern consumerism, dismantling the assumption that material wealth leads to genuine psychological well-being.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.