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

McLaury died hours after Sangha sold him four vials of ketamine in 2019, prosecutors said. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026

Jake Anderson, a recent college graduate, opens most of the packages, takes a photograph of the vials inside, and replaces the labels. —Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026

Contamination is another big concern with drugs purchased on the gray and black markets, many of them from Chinese manufacturers, as well as whether the contents of those little vials match what their labels say. —Sarah Todd, STAT, 6 Apr. 2026

Elmore is accused of supplying Hedrick with a vial of cocaine that was used in the commission of Miller’s death, and of failing to report the location of Miller and Cook’s bodies to authorities. —John Wayne Ferguson, Houston Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026

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