1
a
: of the utmost importance
a vital clue
vital resources
b
: fundamentally concerned with or affecting life or living beings: such as
(1)
: tending to renew or refresh the living : invigorating
(2)
: destructive to life : mortal
2
a
: concerned with or necessary to the maintenance of life
vital organs
blood and other vital fluids
b
: existing as a manifestation of life
3
: full of life and vigor : animated
4
: characteristic of life or living beings
5
: recording data relating to lives
6
: of, relating to, or constituting the staining of living tissues
Examples of vital in a Sentence
These matters are vital to national defense.
The sciences are a vital part of the school curriculum.
your heart, lungs, and other vital organs
Exercise keeps her young and vital.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cables of this kind are vital for internet traffic, cloud services, banking transactions, military communications, data centre traffic, and SWIFT financial messaging.
—
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 17 May 2026
China leverages its dominance over rare earths, while Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia and Chile are also major sources of vital minerals.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 May 2026
While clinical support is vital for those who need it, many employees are simply navigating the messy middle of a transition.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
The actor splashed out on the rights to Woodward and Bernstein’s book — getting there before co-star Hoffman — recognizing the potential in a film about journalists methodically pursuing a dangerous but vital truth.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for vital
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Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 17 May 2026
China leverages its dominance over rare earths, while Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia and Chile are also major sources of vital minerals.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 May 2026
While clinical support is vital for those who need it, many employees are simply navigating the messy middle of a transition.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
The actor splashed out on the rights to Woodward and Bernstein’s book — getting there before co-star Hoffman — recognizing the potential in a film about journalists methodically pursuing a dangerous but vital truth.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for vital
Cite this Entry
“Vital.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vital. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vital
adjective
vi·tal
ˈvīt-ᵊl 
1
: concerned with or necessary to the continuation of life
the heart and lungs are vital organs
2
: full of vitality : animated
3
: characteristic of life or of living things
vital activities
4
: destructive of life : fatal
a vital wound
5
: of first importance
a vital clue
Etymology
Middle English vital "alive, full of life, relating to life," from Latin vitalis "of life," from vita "life"
Medical Definition
vital
adjective
vi·tal
ˈvīt-ᵊl
1
a
: existing as a manifestation of life
b
: concerned with or necessary to the maintenance of life
vital organs
blood and other vital fluids
2
: characteristic of life or living beings
vital activities
3
: recording data relating to lives
vital records
4
: of, relating to, or constituting the staining of living tissues
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