vital

adjective vi·tal \ ˈvī-tᵊl \

Definition of vital

1 a :of the utmost importance

a vital clue

vital resources

b :fundamentally concerned with or affecting life or living beings: such as

(1) :tending to renew or refresh the living :invigorating

(2) :destructive to life :mortal

2 a :concerned with or necessary to the maintenance of life

vital organs

blood and other vital fluids

b :existing as a manifestation of life

3 :full of life and vigor :animated

4 :characteristic of life or living beings

5 :recording data relating to lives

6 :of, relating to, or constituting the staining of living tissues

—

vitally

play \ˈvī-tᵊl-ē\ adverb

See vital defined for English-language learners

See vital defined for kids

Examples of vital in a Sentence

These matters are vital to national defense.
The sciences are a vital part of the school curriculum.
your heart, lungs, and other vital organs
Exercise keeps her young and vital.

Recent Examples of vital from the Web

Patients who develop a dangerous complication, in which the immune system overreacts and attacks vital organs, might need coverage for emergency room care, as well as lengthy stays in the intensive care unit.

— liz szabo, Kaiser Health News, "Pioneering Cancer Gene Therapy Gets Green Light — And $475,000 Price Tag," 30 Aug. 2017
The bad: Pass rush is vital to any team’s chances, and much of the Packers’ edge pressure hinges on the health of two players with extensive injury histories: Matthews and Perry.

— ryan wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "NFC: Falcons look to rebound from Super Bowl collapse," 25 Aug. 2017
Improving economies of scale and reining in excessive spending will be vital for the VW marque achieving a 4 percent return on sales while investing in a range of electric cars planned to hit the market starting in 2020.

— christoph rauwald, Bloomberg.com, "VW Rolls Out a Two-Tone Compact SUV to Challenge Nissan," 23 Aug. 2017
Walmart gets 56% of annual sales from grocery, making the category vital for its well being.

— phil wahba, Fortune, "These 18 CEOs Had Strong Words for President Trump’s Charlottesville Response," 18 Aug. 2017
The reality of a dark-skinned president threatened a vital source of many a white American’s fragile sense of self-respect.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "How the GOP Can Prove It Isn’t a Party for White Supremacists," 13 Aug. 2017
Empowered by partnerships like these, women artisans in countries including Kenya and Rwanda can provide vital necessities like running water and electricity to their homes.

— laurie delk, Pacific San Diego Magazine, "Wrap it up with limited artistic sarongs," 8 Aug. 2017
Eventually, patients lose vital functions like breathing and swallowing.

— leslie barrie and amanda macmillan, Health.com, "5 Things You May Not Know About ALS," 31 July 2017
That is one half of a delicate but vital constitutional arrangement designed to ensure that neither the FBI director nor the president can amass completely untrammeled power over law enforcement in a way that would invite political abuse.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Donald Trump: L’état, C’est Moi," 20 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vital.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of vital

Middle English, from Latin vitalis of life, from vita life; akin to Latin vivere to live — more at quick

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

vital Synonyms

Synonyms

dynamic, energetic, flush, gingery, lusty, peppy, red-blooded, robust, vigorous

Antonyms

dull, lethargic, listless, sluggish, torpid

Near Antonyms

delicate, effete, enervated, faint, feeble, frail, infirm, wan, weak, weakened; impotent, powerless, prostrate, prostrated, sapped, tired; indolent, lackadaisical, languid, lazy; invertebrate, nerveless, soft, spineless, wimpy; ill, unhealthy, unsound, unwell; broken-down, debilitated, decrepit, disabled, wasted, worn-out

Synonym Discussion of vital

essential, fundamental, vital, cardinal mean so important as to be indispensable. essential implies belonging to the very nature of a thing and therefore being incapable of removal without destroying the thing itself or its character.

- conflict is essential in drama

fundamental applies to something that is a foundation without which an entire system or complex whole would collapse.

- fundamental principles of algebra

vital suggests something that is necessary to a thing's continued existence or operation.

- cut off from vital supplies

cardinal suggests something on which an outcome turns or depends.

- a cardinal rule in buying a home

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

VITAL Defined for English Language Learners

vital

adjective

Definition of vital for English Language Learners

: extremely important
: needed by your body in order to keep living
: very lively or energetic

VITAL Defined for Kids

vital

adjective vi·tal \ ˈvī-tᵊl \

Definition of vital for Students

1 :concerned with or necessary to the continuation of life

The heart and lungs are vital organs.

2 :full of life and energy

At 80, he's still an active and vital man.

3 :very important

a vital clue

—

vitally

adverb

These are vitally needed supplies.

Medical Dictionary

vital

adjective vi·tal \ ˈvīt-ᵊl \

medical Definition of vital

1 a :existing as a manifestation of life

b :concerned with or necessary to the maintenance of life

vital organs

blood and other vital fluids

2 :characteristic of life or living beings

vital activities

3 :recording data relating to lives

vital records

4 :of, relating to, or constituting the staining of living tissues

—

vitally

play \-ᵊl-ē\ adverb

Learn More about vital

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Synonyms

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VITAL Defined for English Language Learners

vital

Definition of vital for English Language Learners

VITAL Defined for Kids

vital

Definition of vital for Students

vitally

Medical Dictionary

vital

medical Definition of vital

vitally

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