The meaning of PIVOTAL is of, relating to, or constituting a pivot. How to use pivotal in a sentence.

PIVOTAL meaning: 1. central and important: 2. central and important: 3. important because other things depend on…. Learn more.

adjective of, relating to, or serving as a pivot. of vital or critical importance. a pivotal event.

A pivotal role, point, or figure in something is one that is very important and affects the success of that thing. The Court of Appeal has a pivotal role in the English legal system. The elections may prove to …

Definition of pivotal adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

1. Of, relating to, or serving as a pivot. 2. Being of vital or central importance; crucial: a decision that was pivotal to our success.

In this sense, something 'pivotal' is critically important and essential to the success or outcome of a particular situation, event, or process, much like a hinge is crucial for the functioning of a door.

Factsheet What does the word pivotal mean? There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the word pivotal. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English piv‧ot‧al /ˈpɪvətəl/ adjective more important than anything else in a situation, system etc SYN key The Bank of England has a pivotal role in the …

Sep 21, 2025 · Pivotal (adjective): Of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else. The term pivotal derives from the word pivot, which stems from the French pivot (a …