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
The company also is developing sensors that monitor health vital statistics, including body temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2022
Four were approved, none since 2006, according to to the court system records and the state’s office of vital statistics.
—James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Mar. 2022
For a comparison, provisional vital statistics kept by the Arkansas Department of Health show that 3,343 people died in accidents in 2019 and 2020, the most recent years reported.
—Teresa Moss, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2022
There’s also a narrower definition the state uses for the official vital statistics tally for end-of-year reporting.
—Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 14 Jan. 2022
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
The company also is developing sensors that monitor health vital statistics, including body temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2022
Four were approved, none since 2006, according to to the court system records and the state’s office of vital statistics.
—James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Mar. 2022
For a comparison, provisional vital statistics kept by the Arkansas Department of Health show that 3,343 people died in accidents in 2019 and 2020, the most recent years reported.
—Teresa Moss, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2022
There’s also a narrower definition the state uses for the official vital statistics tally for end-of-year reporting.
—Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 14 Jan. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vital statistics.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near vital statistics
Cite this Entry
“Vital statistics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vital%20statistics. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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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