vital

[vahyt-l]

adjective

1. of or relating to life.

   vital processes.

2. having remarkable energy, liveliness, or force of personality.

   a vital leader.

3. being the seat or source of life.

   the vital organs.

4. necessary to life.

   vital fluids.

5. necessary to the existence, continuance, or well-being of something; indispensable; essential.

   vital for a healthy society.

   Synonyms: critical, important

6. affecting the existence, well-being, truth, etc., of something.

   a vital error.

7. of critical importance.

   vital decisions.

8. destructive to life; deadly.

   a vital wound.

vital

/ ˈvaɪtəl /

adjective

1. essential to maintain life

   the lungs perform a vital function

2. forceful, energetic, or lively

   a vital person

3. of, relating to, having, or displaying life

   a vital organism

4. indispensable or essential

   books vital to this study

5. of great importance; decisive

   a vital game

6. archaic,  influencing the course of life, esp negatively

   a vital treachery

noun

1. (plural)

   1. the bodily organs, such as the brain, liver, heart, lungs, etc, that are necessary to maintain life

   2. the organs of reproduction, esp the male genitals

2. (plural) the essential elements of anything

Other Word Forms

• vitally adverb
• vitalness noun
• nonvital adjective
• nonvitally adverb
• nonvitalness noun
• quasi-vital adjective
• quasi-vitally adverb
• supervital adjective
• supervitally adverb
• supervitalness noun
• unvital adjective
• unvitally adverb
• unvitalness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vital¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin vītālis, equivalent to vīt(a) “life” (derivative of vīvere “to live”; akin to Greek bioûn, Sanskrit jīvati “(he) lives,” English quick ( def. ) ) + -ālis -al ¹ ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of vital¹

C14: via Old French from Latin vītālis belonging to life, from vīta life

Example Sentences

"It's vital, you've got to reset. That was a great win, tough win, emotional coming back from down 21, but it was only to be celebrated that night," Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said.

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"Given the times we live in, fiscal sustainability is paramount... it is vital that the public can see we are consistently working towards it," Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama told a press briefing.

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"For every minute that passes after a cardiac arrest the chances of survival decrease by up to 10 per cent, that's a vital window, so more people having confidence to intervene will save lives."

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A government spokesperson said pubs were "vital to local communities," adding that ministers were lowering business rates, cutting alcohol duty on draught pints, capping Corporation Tax and reforming licensing rules.

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The government said the new policing strategy would be a "vital step" in tackling rural crime.

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Related Words

• basic 
• critical 
• crucial 
• decisive 
• fundamental 
• imperative 
• important 
• indispensable 
• integral 
• key 
• meaningful 
• necessary 
• needed 
• significant 
• urgent