critical value

This term is a technical expression used primarily in statistics and thermodynamics. In a statistical context, it serves as a benchmark to determine whether a result is statistically significant, acting as the dividing line between the acceptance and rejection of a null hypothesis. It is often contrasted with the test statistic calculated from sample data.

In physical sciences, the term describes a precise tipping point where a material's properties change abruptly, such as the transition from a liquid to a gas. Because it refers to a specific, measured threshold, it is used in highly formal, academic, or technical registers and is rarely found in casual conversation.