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Definition of vial
vial
/ˈvaɪ.əl/
vi · al
Plural:vials
•Past Simple:vialed
•Past Participle:vialed
•Present Participle:vialing
vial Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
7
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
vial Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A small, usually cylindrical glass or plastic container used for holding liquids such as medicines, perfumes, or chemicals.
Example
"The scientist carefully extracted the newly synthesized compound from a sterile glass vial."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for vial• verb
1
To place or store in a vial (especially a liquid substance).
Example
"After the distillation process was complete, the fragrant essential oil was vialed and prepared for shipment."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for vialWord Nuance & Usage
Often confused with its homophone 'vile', which is an adjective meaning extremely unpleasant or morally bad. It is also synonymous with the less common spelling 'phial'.
• Rhymes for vial
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'viole' and Old French 'fiole', ultimately from the Greek 'phialē', meaning a broad, flat container.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Vial. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/vial