pivotal

adjective

piv·​ot·​al ˈpi-və-tᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or constituting a pivot

2

: vitally important : critical

pivotally

ˈpi-və-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms of pivotal

• crucial
• key
• critical
• vital

Examples of pivotal in a Sentence

She is at a pivotal point in her career.

the report was missing a pivotal piece of information

Recent Examples on the Web

More than 150 million Brazilians voted Sunday in a pivotal presidential election for Latin America’s largest economy, after a campaign dominated by tensions between Brasília and Washington. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 4 Oct. 2026

Clark and Reese sat beside each other throughout the final round and connected on pivotal plays during the title game. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

The title of the episode refers to its two pivotal phone exchanges. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026

Back in 1964, even a relatively enlightened critic like Robert Shelton, who played a pivotal role in introducing Bob Dylan to a national audience three years before, was a Beatles skeptic. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

pivotal

adjective

piv·​ot·​al ˈpiv-ət-ᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or functioning as a pivot

2

: extremely important : critical

a pivotal discovery

pivotally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb