vital

[ vahyt-l ]

/ ˈvaɪt l /

adjective

of or relating to life: vital processes.

having remarkable energy, liveliness, or force of personality: a vital leader.

being the seat or source of life: the vital organs.

necessary to life: vital fluids.

necessary to the existence, continuance, or well-being of something; indispensable; essential: vital for a healthy society.

affecting the existence, well-being, truth, etc., of something: a vital error.

of critical importance: vital decisions.

destructive to life; deadly: a vital wound.

Origin of vital

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin vītālis, equivalent to vīt(a) life (derivative of vīvere to live; akin to Greek bíesthai, Sanskrit jīvati (he) lives, English quick) + -ālis -al¹

SYNONYMS FOR vital

5 important, critical.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR vital ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM vital

vi·tal·ly, adverb vi·tal·ness, noun non·vi·tal, adjective non·vi·tal·ly, adverb

non·vi·tal·ness, noun qua·si-vi·tal, adjective qua·si-vi·tal·ly, adverb su·per·vi·tal, adjective su·per·vi·tal·ly, adverb su·per·vi·tal·ness, noun un·vi·tal, adjective un·vi·tal·ly, adverb un·vi·tal·ness, noun

Words nearby vital

visuosensory, visuospatial, visé, vita, vitaceous, vital, vital capacity, vital force, vital function, vital index, vital pulp

Definition for vital (2 of 2)

vitals

[ vahyt-lz ]

/ ˈvaɪt lz /

plural noun

those bodily organs that are essential to life, as the brain, heart, liver, lungs, and stomach.

the essential parts of something: the vitals of a democracy.

Origin of vitals

1600–10; translation of Latin vītālia; see vital

Example sentences from the Web for vital

His ups and downs professionally outside of the World Cup are a vital a part of his story in the book.

Tim Howard’s Wall of Intensity |William O’Connor |December 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Vital Voices in 2013 took over funds from the Women In The World foundation which originated at The Daily Beast.

Joe Biden: ‘I’ll Kill Your Son’ |Olivia Nuzzi |December 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“The influence of the oak maturation casks on the final character of The Macallan is vital,” says MacPherson.

How Much Do Whisky Casks Really Affect Taste? | |December 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
This argument is vital to a larger argument: Do we obey the rules set up to constrain government or not?

Obama’s ISIS War Is Illegal |Sen. Rand Paul |November 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

In terms of transparency, the U.K. has taken a vital step forward by openly quantifying the extent of the situation.

The West’s Female-Genital Mutilation Wake-Up Call |Charlotte Lytton |October 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
This is true; vital statistics and fiction to the contrary, notwithstanding.

The Sheriff of Badger |George B. Pattullo
Lloyd Morgan has prettily likened the vital processes to the periodic formation and discharge of explosive substances.

On Germinal Selection as a Source of Definite Variation |August Weismann
The mind is apt to tire and needs rousing continually, otherwise the work will lack the impulse that shall make it vital.

The Practice and Science Of Drawing |Harold Speed
Steadiness of rates, on the other hand, is vital to a healthy state of trade.

Railroads: Rates and Regulations |William Z. Ripley
It is of vital importance to give him absolute confidence in his ability to hit his man.

The Modern Pistol and How to Shoot It |Walter Winans

British Dictionary definitions for vital

vital

/ (ˈvaɪtəl) /

adjective

essential to maintain life the lungs perform a vital function

forceful, energetic, or lively a vital person

of, relating to, having, or displaying life a vital organism

indispensable or essential books vital to this study

of great importance; decisive a vital game

archaic influencing the course of life, esp negatively a vital treachery

noun

(plural)

the bodily organs, such as the brain, liver, heart, lungs, etc, that are necessary to maintain life
the organs of reproduction, esp the male genitals

(plural) the essential elements of anything

Derived forms of vital

vitally, adverb

Word Origin for vital

C14: via Old French from Latin vītālis belonging to life, from vīta life

Medical definitions for vital (1 of 2)

vital

[ vīt′l ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or characteristic of life.

Necessary to the continuation of life.

Used or done on a living cell or tissue, as in staining.

Destructive to life; fatal, as of an injury.

Medical definitions for vital (2 of 2)

vitals

[ vīt′lz ]

pl.n.

The vital body organs.

The parts that are essential to continued functioning, as of a system.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

vital

adjective

Origin of vital

SYNONYMS FOR vital

OTHER WORDS FROM vital

Words nearby vital

Definition for vital (2 of 2)

plural noun

Origin of vitals

Example sentences from the Web for vital

British Dictionary definitions for vital

adjective

noun

Derived forms of vital

Word Origin for vital

Medical definitions for vital (1 of 2)

adj.

Medical definitions for vital (2 of 2)

pl.n.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

vital

adjective

Origin of vital

SYNONYMS FOR vital

OTHER WORDS FROM vital

Words nearby vital

Definition for vital (2 of 2)

plural noun

Origin of vitals

Words related to vital

Example sentences from the Web for vital

British Dictionary definitions for vital

adjective

noun

Derived forms of vital

Word Origin for vital

Medical definitions for vital (1 of 2)

adj.

Medical definitions for vital (2 of 2)

pl.n.