1. the organs of the body that are essential for life, especially the heart, lungs, and brain
Usage: usually plural
2. the most important or essential parts of something
Usage: usually plural; figurative

Examples

• The doctor checked his vitals after the accident.
• Her vitals were stable throughout the surgery.
• The bullet missed his vitals by inches.
• We need to protect the vitals of our democracy.
• The company’s vitals include cash flow and customer satisfaction.
• The nurse monitored the patient’s vitals every hour.