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death rate

American  
[deth reyt] / ˈdɛθ ˌreɪt /
death rate British  

noun

  1. Also called (esp US): mortality rate.  the ratio of deaths in a specified area, group, etc, to the population of that area, group, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of death rate

First recorded in 1855–60

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.

See Examples For:

At 20.2 per 100,000 men, the death rate for men in the UK in 2024 was almost double the rate for women.

From BBC May 11, 2026

Supervisor Kathryn Barger abstained from the vote, arguing the county could not address the death rate without building a new facility.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 3, 2026

We can cut this death rate with early and consistent prenatal care, research has shown.

From Salon Mar. 1, 2026

It found the death rate increased among patients who had severe heart attacks, which refers to when a blood vessel that feeds the heart is completely blocked.

From The Wall Street Journal Feb. 26, 2026

In 1948, the only year figures were available, Crownsville averaged one doctor for every 225 patients, and its death rate was far higher than its discharge rate.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

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