adj Uncommon

pivotal

PIH-vih-tuhl

Pivotal (adj) means Extremely important; central to how something turns out. Example: “Her testimony was pivotal in winning the case.”

adj

Extremely important; central to how something turns out.

"Her testimony was pivotal in winning the case."

"The invention of the printing press was a pivotal moment in history."

How to use pivotal

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSo important that everything else depends on it.

Common pairings

pivotal role pivotal moment pivotal decision

more pivotal comparative, most pivotal superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

Her testimony was _____ in winning the case.

From "pivot" plus the adjective suffix "-al" — literally, something a situation turns on.

total

What does “pivotal” mean?

The word “pivotal” means extremely important; central to how something turns out. In plain terms, so important that everything else depends on it.

How do you pronounce “pivotal”?

“Pivotal” is pronounced PIH-vih-tuhl (/ˈpɪvɪtəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “pivotal” in a sentence?

Here is “pivotal” used in a sentence: “Her testimony was pivotal in winning the case.”

What part of speech is “pivotal”?

“Pivotal” is an adjective.

Is “pivotal” a common word?

“Pivotal” is an uncommon word in modern English.