vitals

[ vahyt-lz ]

plural noun

1. those bodily organs that are essential to life, as the brain, heart, liver, lungs, and stomach.
2. the essential parts of something:

   the vitals of a democracy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of vitals¹

1600–10; translation of Latin vītālia; vital

Example Sentences

Its legislative committee chairman called public housing a form of “socialism that is gnawing at the vitals of America from within.”

From Los Angeles Times

Rings and watches track vitals, while Ray-Bans now come with cameras and microphones.

From Science Daily

The staff checked his vitals, listened to his chest and gave him a hepatitis vaccine.

From Seattle Times

A group of us who held mostly-expired First Responder and EMT certifications monitored his vitals in shifts for 24 hours before airlifting him out.

From Salon

“She did not remember the incident itself but does remember that she wasn’t feeling well prior to the incident,” McAdams said, who added that her vitals were stable.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• essential
• fundamental
• obligation
• precondition
• prerequisite
• requirement
• urgency