1. The time in a woman's life in which the menstrual cycle ends
   "She experienced hot flashes during climacteric";
   - menopause, change of life [informal]
    
2. A period in a man's life corresponding to menopause
   "He experienced mood swings during his climacteric"
    
3. A crisis situation or point in time when a critical decision must be made
   "The company reached a climacteric when facing the hostile takeover";
   - juncture, critical point, crossroads

1. Forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis
   "The company faced a climacteric moment when deciding whether to merge with its competitor";
   - critical, decisive

Derived forms: climacterics

See also: crucial, important

Type of: biological time, crisis

Part of: middle age

Encyclopedia: Climacteric