* Adjective: Describing something as essential, crucial, or important. Example: "This is a critical moment in history."
* Adverb: Meaning "in a critical manner" or "with careful judgment." Example: "He analyzed the situation critically."
* Noun: Referring to a critical analysis or a review. Example: "The film received positive criticals."
To figure out which part of speech "critical" is, you need to look at its function in the sentence.