vital signs

American  

plural noun

1. essential body functions, comprising pulse rate, body temperature, and respiration, used as a measure of health or physical condition.

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vital signs British  

plural noun

1. med indications that a person is still alive. Vital signs include a heartbeat, a pulse that can be felt, breathing, and body temperature

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vital signs Scientific  

1. The pulse rate, temperature, respiratory rate, and usually blood pressure of an individual.

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vital signs Cultural  

1. The pulse rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and rate of respiration of a person. The vital signs are usually measured to obtain a quick evaluation of the person's general physical condition.

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Etymology

Origin of vital signs

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

But a rate cut doesn’t look likely based on the labor market’s recent vital signs.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 5, 2026

The head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security service, compared it to a patient whose vital signs were in decline.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Beyond these behavioral improvements, the compound proved non-toxic in both hippocampal cell cultures and the animals themselves, whose vital signs were closely followed throughout the experiments.

From Science Daily • Nov. 19, 2025

England coach Tuchel only has seven more games before he names his squad for next summer's World Cup, but the vital signs of serious progress have yet to be detected.

From BBC • Sep. 9, 2025

Besides learning about Garfield's vital signs each day, readers knew when Garfield slept restlessly, how much pain he had, and how often he moved his bowels.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow