The discovery of antibiotics was a pivotal moment in medical history, drastically reducing mortality from infections.
抗生素的发现是医学史上的一个关键时刻，大幅降低了感染导致的死亡率。
Which choice best defines “pivotal”?
D — Very important, central. “pivotal” means very important, central.
Which word means “very important, central”?
C — pivotal. “pivotal” means very important, central.
pivotal — very important, central. In Chinese: 关键的，枢纽的.
pivotal is pronounced /ˈpɪvətl/.
The discovery of antibiotics was a pivotal moment in medical history, drastically reducing mortality from infections. (抗生素的发现是医学史上的一个关键时刻，大幅降低了感染导致的死亡率。)
crucial, critical, central — all close in meaning to pivotal (very important, central).
minor, peripheral — each the opposite of pivotal (very important, central).
Yes. pivotal is on the SAT Prep Easy list — mid-frequency academic words that do get tested. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.
pivot(axis)+al(adj)