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

If data based on a patient’s vital signs, laboratory tests, nurse reports and other factors points to worsening clinical status, the system issues an alert so that the patient can be rapidly evaluated by an in-person clinician. —Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2025

Similarly, seasoned nurses integrate subtle patient cues in healthcare to anticipate deterioration risks long before vital signs change. —Rajesh Rajagopalan, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025

Check vital signs The heartbeat of a dog or cat can be felt by laying it down on its right side and placing your hand over its chest, just behind the left elbow. —Lisa Bloch, Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025

Taking a good medical history, paying attention to vital signs, performing an examination, ordering pertinent bloodwork, considering other possible causes for the symptoms, and doing close follow-up monitoring are good ways to avoid missing serious infections. —Dr. Nick Schneeman, TIME, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for vital signs

• borderlines
• byzantines
• concubines
• cytokines
• palatines
• porcupines
• redefines
• storylines
• underlines
• undermines
• ursulines
• valentines

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