pivotal

adjective

piv·​ot·​al ˈpi-və-tᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or constituting a pivot

2

: vitally important : critical

pivotally

ˈpi-və-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms of pivotal

• crucial
• key
• critical
• vital

Examples of pivotal in a Sentence

She is at a pivotal point in her career.

the report was missing a pivotal piece of information

Recent Examples on the Web

While sitting next to her at Sant Ambroeus in New York, Twine is as light and calm as ever, despite experiencing such pivotal life accomplishments in such quick succession. — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026

The year would prove to be a pivotal year for Strahan in more than one way. — Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

At Apple, Ternus has tackled some of the company’s trickiest hardware problems, including playing a pivotal role in the company’s 2007 iMac, which was the first to feature the iconic aluminum casing. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Filmmaker Catherine Legge, who spent more than three years creating a documentary about his case, also played a pivotal role. — Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

pivotal

adjective

piv·​ot·​al ˈpiv-ət-ᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or functioning as a pivot

2

: extremely important : critical

a pivotal discovery

pivotally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb