What does critique mean?
A critique is a careful, structured evaluation of a work, idea, or performance — one that examines its strengths and weaknesses rather than simply passing casual judgment. The word functions both as a noun, naming such an analysis, and as a verb, describing the act of producing one: a teacher might critique a student's essay, or a scholar might critique a political theory. Because a critique is expected to weigh evidence and articulate reasons, it carries a more formal and intellectual tone than a simple review or opinion, and unlike "criticism," it need not be negative; a good critique often acknowledges what succeeds alongside what falls short. Derived from Greek roots shared with "critic" and "criterion," the term entered English by way of French and has become central to academic, artistic, and professional discourse. To critique well is to combine close attention with fair-minded judgment — a skill valued in classrooms, studios, newsrooms, and boardrooms alike.
A detailed, structured evaluation or analysis of a literary work, artwork, theory, performance, or other subject, assessing both merits and shortcomings.
"The professor returned each essay with a written critique highlighting its strongest arguments and its weakest evidence."
Often used in academic, artistic, and professional contexts where structured feedback is expected.
To examine something critically and offer an assessment of its qualities and defects.
"The editors critiqued the manuscript line by line before sending it back to the author."
Standard pluralization; used when referring to multiple written or spoken evaluations.
"The journal published several critiques of the new economic policy."
The same Greek root that gives us "critique" also gives us "criterion" — so every critique is secretly measuring something against a standard.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of critique
The word "critique" comes from the French "critique," which itself derives from the Greek "kritikē" meaning the art of judging, rooted in "kritēs" (judge) and "krinein" (to decide or separate). It entered English usage around the late 17th century, initially referring to the art of criticism before narrowing to mean a specific evaluative analysis. Its cognates include "critic," "critical," "criticism," and "criterion," all tracing back to the same Greek source concerning judgment and discernment.
Related word forms
How critique is actually used
"Critique" carries a more formal, scholarly connotation than "review" — it implies depth, method, and structure rather than a casual opinion. In everyday informal speech it is less common than criticism or feedback. Note that unlike "criticism," which is often understood negatively, a critique is expected to be fair and balanced.
Easily confused with critique
A critic is a person who evaluates works or performances, while a critique is the evaluation itself.
Criticism can refer to the act or expression of disapproval in general, whereas a critique is typically a balanced, structured analysis that may include praise as well as fault-finding.