vitals
Americanplural noun
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those bodily organs that are essential to life, as the brain, heart, liver, lungs, and stomach.
-
the essential parts of something.
the vitals of a democracy.
Etymology
Origin of vitals
1600–10; translation of Latin vītālia; see vital
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Patients’ vitals are automatically uploaded into a central system.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
About 35 minutes in, Lamphere’s vitals started spiking; her heart rate quickened, she grew hot, her pupils dilated, she began grinding her teeth.
From Slate • Jan. 30, 2026
Recent financial trends confirm healthy vitals, a stark contrast to what the stock price collapse might otherwise imply.
From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025
Each model of smartwatch has its own novel way of tracking your vitals and interpreting your data, but the majority use sensors on the back of the watch.
From BBC • Dec. 5, 2025
Clarissa had been in and out of the room, checking my vitals.
From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
