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
Synonyms
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
Head Start, which provides vital services to the nation's most vulnerable children and families, ran into issues when directors were locked out of the online payment system.
—
Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
Adding to the strain, Moore’s proposal to eliminate charitable deductions threatens nonprofits that provide these vital services.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2025
The ceasefire has seen the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gazan population centers, a surge of aid entering the enclave and, for the first time since May last year, the opening of the vital Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt for the evacuation of injured and sick Palestinians.
—Mick Krever, CNN, 3 Feb. 2025
Taken together, the following five sites are vital reminders of the role that Black communities played in Hawai‘i’s resilience—and continue to play in its cultural preservation.
—Malik Peay, AFAR Media, 3 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for vital 
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Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
Adding to the strain, Moore’s proposal to eliminate charitable deductions threatens nonprofits that provide these vital services.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2025
The ceasefire has seen the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gazan population centers, a surge of aid entering the enclave and, for the first time since May last year, the opening of the vital Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt for the evacuation of injured and sick Palestinians.
—Mick Krever, CNN, 3 Feb. 2025
Taken together, the following five sites are vital reminders of the role that Black communities played in Hawai‘i’s resilience—and continue to play in its cultural preservation.
—Malik Peay, AFAR Media, 3 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for vital
Articles Related to vital
Dictionary Entries Near vital
Cite this Entry
“Vital.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vital. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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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