critical component
/ˈkrɪtɪkəl kəmˈpoʊnənt/ · cri·ti·cal com·po·nent
noun
- An essential part of a system or process whose absence or failure would compromise the whole. The battery is a critical component of the electric vehicle.
- A part that is crucial for the success or effectiveness of an endeavor. Strong leadership was a critical component in securing the grant.
Synonyms
essential elementkey partvital componentcrucial pieceindispensable partpivotal elementfundamental component
Antonyms
Did you know? The term "critical component" gained prominence in the 1970s with the rise of computer architecture, where designers highlighted the importance of specific modules like the CPU or memory as the system’s critical components.