vital signs

plural noun

1

: signs of life

… frightened even more by the fact that a few months ago you were clinically dead—that's right, dead—all vital signs gone.

—Asa Baber

specifically : the pulse rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and blood pressure of a person

Her vital signs and findings from physical examination were normal, and she was not hospitalized.

—John P. Hanrahan et al.

2

: measurable variables considered to indicate the general state or condition of something

The economy's vital signs are stronger than they have been in years. Companies are posting jobs faster than they can find workers to fill them.

—Ben Casselman

He proposes that living things act as a single, coordinated entity that maintains the earth's temperature and other vital signs within very narrow limits that are to the entity's own benefit.

—Michael Oppenheimer

Note: The singular vital sign is sometimes used for a single sign or measurement.

… a specific vital sign, such as temperature, oil pressure, and the rpm of the power turbine and gas producer.

—Jay Coyle

Note: The singular form is also often used before another noun.

vital sign monitors

vital sign data

Examples of vital signs in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The findings should be jarring reminders of planetary vital signs flashing red. —Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026

For nearly three decades, the scientific community has recognized waist circumference as a clinical vital sign to predict metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk. —Aditi Kantipuly, STAT, 17 Mar. 2026

All three victims reportedly had stable vital signs, with one of the three victims seriously injured. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026

The notifications flagged changes in vital signs without specifics. —Hilke Schellmann, Scientific American, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for vital signs

• borderlines
• byzantines
• concubines
• cytokines
• palatines
• porcupines
• redefines
• storylines
• underlines
• undermines
• ursulines
• valentines

Kids Definition

vital signs

plural noun

: the pulse rate, body temperature, number of breaths taken per minute, and often blood pressure of a person

Medical Definition

vital signs

noun plural

: signs of life

specifically : the pulse rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and often blood pressure of a person