vital signs

plural noun

1
: signs of life
… frightened even more by the fact that a few months ago you were clinically dead—that's right, dead—all vital signs gone.Asa Baber
specifically : the pulse rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and blood pressure of a person
Her vital signs and findings from physical examination were normal, and she was not hospitalized. John P. Hanrahan et al.
2
: measurable variables considered to indicate the general state or condition of something
The economy's vital signs are stronger than they have been in years. Companies are posting jobs faster than they can find workers to fill them.Ben Casselman
He proposes that living things act as a single, coordinated entity that maintains the earth's temperature and other vital signs within very narrow limits that are to the entity's own benefit.Michael Oppenheimer

Note: The singular vital sign is sometimes used for a single sign or measurement.

The box … houses nine removable electronic modules, each of which monitors a specific vital sign, such as temperature, oil pressure, and the rpm of the power turbine and gas producer.Jay Coyle

Note: The singular form is also often used before another noun.

vital sign monitors
vital sign data

Examples of vital signs in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In past presidential races, those kinds of economic vital signs have reliably foreshadowed victory for the incumbent party in the White House. Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2024 Arizona's scariest haunted hotels Not all hotel guests in Arizona are the kind with vital signs. The Arizona Republic, 19 Oct. 2024 Nurses and other providers at the local clinic can do bloodwork, measure vital signs and nurture the doctor-patient relationship. Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024 According to the summary of an exam conducted six months ago, Harris’ vital signs showed a blood pressure of 128 over 74, a heart rate of 78 beats per minute, pulse oximetry of 100% on room air with a respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute and a temperature of 98.7 degrees. Darlene Superville, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vital signs 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vital signs.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of vital signs was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near vital signs

Cite this Entry

“Vital signs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vital%20signs. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

vital signs

plural noun
: the pulse rate, body temperature, number of breaths taken per minute, and often blood pressure of a person

Medical Definition

vital signs

noun plural
: signs of life
specifically : the pulse rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and often blood pressure of a person
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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