What does crucial mean Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈkrʊʃəl/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Adjective

Definition

Extremely important or urgent; having a significant impact or influence on the outcome of a situation.

Examples

• The crucial moment in the game was when the team scored the winning goal.
• Her crucial decision to invest in the company paid off in the long run.

Synonyms

• Essential
• Vital
• Decisive

Antonyms

• Unimportant
• Trivial
• Insignificant

Additional Information

The word “crucial” is often used to describe situations or moments that have a significant impact on the outcome of an event or decision. It can also be used to describe something that is essential or vital to the success of a project or endeavor. In everyday language, “crucial” is often used interchangeably with words like “important” or “key,” but it carries a slightly stronger connotation of urgency or significance.

In a business context, “crucial” might be used to describe a critical deadline or a key performance indicator. In a medical context, it might be used to describe a crucial stage in a patient’s treatment or a vital sign that needs to be monitored closely. In a personal context, “crucial” might be used to describe a turning point in a relationship or a critical decision that needs to be made.

Overall, “crucial” is a versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts to convey a sense of importance, urgency, or significance.

Eymology

The word “crucial” comes from the Latin word “crux,” meaning “cross.” In the 17th century, the word “crucial” was used to describe something that was shaped like a cross, but over time its meaning evolved to include the sense of something being critical or decisive.

Usage Notes

When using the word “crucial,” it’s essential to consider the context in which it’s being used. In formal or professional settings, “crucial” is often used to convey a sense of importance or urgency. In informal settings, it might be used more loosely to describe something that’s simply important or significant.

Cultural References

The word “crucial” has been used in a variety of cultural contexts, including music, film, and literature. For example, the phrase “crucial moment” is often used in sports commentary to describe a turning point in a game.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• Crucial moment
• Crucial decision
• Crucial stage

Related Words or Phrases

• Essential
• Vital
• Decisive
• Key
• Important

Collocations

• Crucial moment in the game
• Crucial decision to make
• Crucial stage in the project

Frequency of Use

The word “crucial” is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. According to the Corpus of Contemporary American English, “crucial” is used approximately 1.5 times per million words.

Common Misspellings

• Crucual
• Cruical
• Crutial