vial

noun

vi·​al ˈvī(-ə)l 

: a small closed or closable vessel especially for liquids

Examples of vial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Other features include a tungsten-steel automotive window glass breaker, a keyring/lanyard hole, and two slots for adding optional vials of glow-in-the-dark tritium. —Ben Coxworth may 27, New Atlas, 27 May 2025

That vial meant far more to me than the metal inside. —John Archibald, Southern Living, 25 May 2025

Reed said Cara has needed 30 vials of antivenom treatment and had to be intubated. —Jillian Frankel, People.com, 22 May 2025

The removals shut down the C.D.C.’s renowned viral-hepatitis lab in the middle of a hepatitis-C-outbreak investigation in Florida—just after C.D.C. staff had genetically traced the outbreak to a doctor who had been improperly reusing injection vials. —Atul Gawande, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fiole, viole, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin fiola, alteration of Latin phiala — more at phial

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for vial

• dial
• rial
• thiol
• trial
• denial
• mistrial
• posttrial
• pretrial
• retrial
• sensorial
• supervisorial

Kids Definition

vial

noun

vi·​al ˈvī(-ə)l 

: a small container (as for medicines) made usually of glass or plastic

Medical Definition

vial

noun

vi·​al ˈvī(-ə)l 

: a small closed or closable vessel especially for liquids

called also phial