vitally

Vitally is an adverb derived from the adjective vital. It is used to express that something is essential, urgent, or critically important. In formal or journalistic contexts it often accompanies adjectives such as important, necessary, or to stress urgency. Common usages include "It is vitally important to address climate change" and "Water is vitally needed in emergency situations." While the word has connotations of life-sustaining implications, in everyday language it chiefly signals significance rather than literal life-or-death conditions.

Origin and form: The noun vita means life in Latin, and vital derives from Latin vitalis. The adverb form vitally is built with the -ly suffix to modify verbs or adjectives. The term has appeared in English since at least the early modern period and remains a conventional, if somewhat formal, intensifier.

Usage notes: Vitally tends to be more formal or emphatic than simply "vital" or "very." It is appropriate in policy statements, academic writing, and media reporting, but may sound stilted in casual speech. Watch for redundancy in phrases such as "vitally important" if context already implies importance; however, "vitally important" is widely accepted. Related terms include "vital" (adjective) and "vitality" (noun).