Pivotal: meaning, definitions and examples

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pivotal

 

[ ˈpɪv.ə.təl ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

important

Of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else.

Synonyms

critical, crucial, essential, vital

Examples of usage

  • This discovery was pivotal to the development of new technology.
  • His role was pivotal in the success of the project.
Context #2 | Noun

turning point

A point at which a situation changes in a significant way.

Synonyms

crucial moment, decisive moment, turning point

Examples of usage

  • The court case marked a pivotal in the investigation.
  • The meeting was a pivotal in the decision-making process.

Translations

Translations of the word "pivotal" in other languages:

🇵🇹 crucial

🇮🇳 महत्वपूर्ण

🇩🇪 entscheidend

🇮🇩 krusial

🇺🇦 ключовий

🇵🇱 kluczowy

🇯🇵 重要な

🇫🇷 crucial

🇪🇸 crucial

🇹🇷 kritik

🇰🇷 중요한

🇸🇦 محوري

🇨🇿 klíčový

🇸🇰 kľúčový

🇨🇳 关键的

🇸🇮 ključni

🇮🇸 lykilatriði

🇰🇿 маңызды

🇬🇪 მნიშვნელოვანი

🇦🇿 əhəmiyyətli

🇲🇽 crucial

Word origin

The word 'pivotal' originated from the Latin word 'pivotare', which means 'to balance'. It first appeared in the English language in the early 19th century. Since then, 'pivotal' has been used to describe something of crucial importance or a turning point in various contexts.

See also: pivot.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,424, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.