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; 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.
Héctor checked for vitals and then placed a paper blanket over the corpse.
From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026
For eight hours, her vitals would be monitored, and she’d be flanked by the two therapists.
From Slate • Jan. 30, 2026
People can buy wearables for clinically validated hypertension and sleep-apnea monitoring, and at-home tools to capture real-time vitals for remote consultations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 27, 2025
Recent financial trends confirm healthy vitals, a stark contrast to what the stock price collapse might otherwise imply.
From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025
She twisted her hair up in a bun and checked my vitals, I guess just as a final precautionary measure.
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.
