mortal
Americanadjective
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subject to death; having a transitory life.
all mortal creatures.
-
of or relating to human beings as subject to death; human.
this mortal life.
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belonging to this world.
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deadly or implacable; relentless.
a mortal enemy.
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severe, dire, grievous, or bitter.
in mortal fear.
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causing or liable to cause death; fatal.
a mortal wound.
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to the death.
mortal combat.
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of or relating to death.
the mortal hour.
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involving spiritual death (venial ).
mortal sin.
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long and wearisome.
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extreme; very great.
in a mortal hurry.
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conceivable; possible.
of no mortal value to the owners.
noun
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a human being.
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the condition of being subject to death.
adjective
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(of living beings, esp human beings) subject to death
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of or involving life or the world
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ending in or causing death; fatal
a mortal blow
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deadly or unrelenting
a mortal enemy
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of or like the fear of death; dire
mortal terror
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great or very intense
mortal pain
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possible
there was no mortal reason to go
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slang long and tedious
for three mortal hours
noun
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a mortal being
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informal a person
a mean mortal
Related Words
See fatal.
Other Word Forms
- mortally adverb
- nonmortal adjective
- nonmortally adverb
- postmortal adjective
- postmortally adverb
- premortal adjective
- premortally adverb
- unmortal adjective
Etymology
Origin of mortal
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, Middle French mortal, mortel, from Latin mortālis, equivalent to mort- (stem of mors ) “death” + -ālis -al 1; ambrosia ( def. ); murder ( def. ); murther ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If France didn't know they were in a mighty battle by now - and their Grand Slam in mortal jeopardy - then they knew it minutes later when the rampant hosts did them again.
From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026
The Americans looked not only mortal, but downright overmatched.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026
You have to strain to see him, way up there, high above this mortal coil.
From Slate • Feb. 16, 2026
The rap on this year’s pack of gubernatorial hopefuls is they’re a collective bore, as though the lack of A-list sizzle and failure to throw off sparks is some kind of mortal sin.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026
Though no response, spirit or mortal, was recorded, it’s assumed that the clever Miss Allen remained a skeptic.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
