# vital

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈvaɪtəl/ · frequency rank #3,793

## Definitions
1. Relating to or characteristic of life.
2. Necessary to the continuation of life; being the seat of life; being that on which life depends.
3. Invigorating or life-giving.
4. Necessary to continued existence.
5. Relating to the recording of life events.
6. Very important.
7. Containing life; living.
8. Lively, having vitality
9. Capable of living; in a state to live; viable.

## Etymology
From Middle English vital, from Old French vital, from Latin vītālis (“of life, life-giving”), from vīta (“life”), from vīvō (“to live”). Doublet of jiva and quick.

## Easily confused with
- **viva** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vital-vs-viva)
- **vocal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vital-vs-vocal)
- **vitals** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vital-vs-vitals)
- **vitally** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vital-vs-vitally)
- **via** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/via-vs-vital)
- **val** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/val-vs-vital)
- **Vit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vit-vs-vital)
- **visa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/visa-vs-vital)
- **vita** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vita-vs-vital)
- **vial** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vial-vs-vital)
- **veal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/veal-vs-vital)
- **vila** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vila-vs-vital)
- **viral** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/viral-vs-vital)
- **vinyl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vinyl-vs-vital)
- **vista** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vista-vs-vital)
- **vicar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vicar-vs-vital)
- **Vijay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vijay-vs-vital)
- **vigil** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vigil-vs-vital)
- **Virat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/virat-vs-vital)
- **Vikas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vikas-vs-vital)

## Common misspellings (7)
`ivtal`, `viatl`, `vitall`, `vitla`, `vittal`, `vtial`, `vvital`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/vital