vital

UK: /ˈvaɪt^əl/ US: /ˈvaɪtəl/ ,(vīt′l)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

vi•tal /ˈvaɪtəl/   adj. 

1. Biology of, relating to, or necessary to life:
   vital processes of food and energy production.
2. energetic, lively, or forceful:
   a vital leader.
3. absolutely necessary for the existence, continuance, or well-being of something;
   of great importance;
   indispensable;
   essential:
   vital supplies.
4. of critical importance:
   vital decisions.

vi•tal•ly, adv. See -vit-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

vi•tal  (vīt′l), adj. 

1. Biology of or pertaining to life:
   vital processes.
2. having remarkable energy, liveliness, or force of personality:
   a vital leader.
3. Biology being the seat or source of life:
   the vital organs.
4. Biology necessary to life:
   vital fluids.
5. necessary to the existence, continuance, or well-being of something;
   indispensable;
   essential:
   vital for a healthy society.
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.

• Latin vītālis, equivalent. to vīt(a) life (derivative of vīvere to live; akin to Greek bíesthai, Sanskrit jīvati (he) lives, English quick) + -ālis -al¹
• Middle English 1350–1400

vi′tal•ly, adv. 
vi′tal•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 5. important, critical.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

vital / ˈvaɪt^əl/ 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

noun

1. (plural) the bodily organs, such as the brain, liver, heart, lungs, etc, that are necessary to maintain life
2. (plural) the essential elements of anything

Etymology: 14th Century: via Old French from Latin vītālis belonging to life, from vīta life

ˈvitally adverb