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

Derived Forms

• ˈvitally, adverb

Other Words From

• vital·ly adverb
• vital·ness noun
• non·vital adjective
• non·vital·ly adverb
• non·vital·ness noun
• quasi-vital adjective
• quasi-vital·ly adverb
• super·vital adjective
• super·vital·ly adverb
• super·vital·ness noun
• un·vital adjective
• un·vital·ly adverb
• un·vital·ness 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

Natural sinks play a vital role to moderate the impact of current emissions and draw down atmospheric CO2 concentrations after the date of net zero, stabilizing global temperatures.

From Science Daily

“SSI/SSDI offers vital support to those facing health challenges and disabilities by providing income and health insurance,” Jeremy McCauley, an assistant professor in economics at the University of Bristol, told Salon.

From Salon

It is vital that trans people, a demographic who are disproportionately affected by social isolation and poor physical and mental health, are able to access football like anyone else.

From BBC

Small-scale fisheries play a vital role in providing food and livelihoods for millions of people around the world, particularly in low-income countries in Africa.

From Science Daily

Dr Brown also warned that the caps could see some universities rescind offers already made to foreign students, strangle vital research programmes, and may mean an increase in fees for some Australian students.

From BBC

Related Words

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