late 14c., "of or manifesting life," from Latin vitalis "of or belonging to life," from vita "life," related to vivere "to live," from PIE root *gwei- "to live." The sense of "necessary or important" is from 1610s, via the notion of "essential to life" (late 15c.). Vital capacity recorded from 1852. Related: Vitally.
of vital interest
vital for a healthy society
a vital spot
the loss of vital heat in shock
blood and other vital fluids
vital organs
a vital and charismatic leader
a vital, living organism
vital signs
visualise
visualization
visualize
visually
vita
vital
vital statistics
vitality
vitalize
vitals
vitamin