vial

noun

vi·​al ˈvī(-ə)l 

: a small closed or closable vessel especially for liquids

Examples of vial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The company also had to recall more than 135,000 vials of vecuronium bromide, a muscle relaxer used during surgery, after reports that the medication contained glass particles. —Debbie Cenziper, CNN Money, 20 June 2025

The doctor, Salvador Plasencia, supplied Perry with 20 vials of ketamine over two weeks in the period directly leading up to Perry’s death, at times traveling to his house to inject him. —Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2025

Fleming also admitted to distributing 50 vials of ketamine to Perry's live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. —Jordana Comiter, People.com, 17 June 2025

Later that day, Plasencia injected Perry with ketamine at the actor’s house and left vials behind for Iwamasa to administer to Perry even though the assistant had no medical training, the filing stated. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fiole, viole, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin fiola, alteration of Latin phiala — more at phial

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for vial

• dial
• rial
• thiol
• trial
• denial
• mistrial
• posttrial
• pretrial
• retrial
• sensorial
• supervisorial

Kids Definition

vial

noun

vi·​al ˈvī(-ə)l 

: a small container (as for medicines) made usually of glass or plastic

Medical Definition

vial

noun

vi·​al ˈvī(-ə)l 

: a small closed or closable vessel especially for liquids

called also phial