vital statistics
plural noun
1
: statistics relating to births, deaths, marriages, health, and disease
2
a
: facts (such as physical dimensions or quantities) considered to be interesting or important
She proudly ticked off the show's other vital statistics—17 special exhibits spread over 60,000 square feet, quilts from 25 countries, 150 exhibitors who staffed 210 booths …—
Joseph Harriss
Joseph HarrissMonday afternoon of the week before our game with Pitt last year, a note suddenly appeared on our locker room "clobber board"—the bulletin board we use to post pictures and vital statistics of opposing players.—Ara Parseghian with John McDermott
Ara Parseghian with John McDermott
b
informal + sometimes offensive
: a woman's bust, waist, and hip measurements
They ran ads in Russian newspapers asking women to send photos and vital statistics …—Time
TimeExamples of vital statistics in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Eventually, such devices should enable us to monitor our vital statistics, take diagnostic tests, and receive treatment without ever going to the hospital.
—Elizabeth Svoboda, Discover Magazine, 8 Jan. 2010
As Lynch points out, Muller's argument depended on the actual rate of mutations and other vital statistics that no one in the 1950s could know with much precision.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 7 Jan. 2010
Just about every major health and fitness category is covered, including activity, sleep, nutrition, body measurements, and vital statistics like blood pressure and heart rate.
—David Nield, WIRED, 18 Dec. 2022
People turned to activity trackers, smartwatches and other devices to keep tabs on their steps, vital statistics and more.
—Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 3 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for vital statistics
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Elizabeth Svoboda, Discover Magazine, 8 Jan. 2010
As Lynch points out, Muller's argument depended on the actual rate of mutations and other vital statistics that no one in the 1950s could know with much precision.
—Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 7 Jan. 2010
Just about every major health and fitness category is covered, including activity, sleep, nutrition, body measurements, and vital statistics like blood pressure and heart rate.
—David Nield, WIRED, 18 Dec. 2022
People turned to activity trackers, smartwatches and other devices to keep tabs on their steps, vital statistics and more.
—Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 3 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for vital statistics
Cite this Entry
“Vital statistics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vital%20statistics. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
vital statistics
noun plural
vital sta·tis·tics
-stə-ˈtis-tiks 
: statistics relating to births, deaths, marriages, health, and disease
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