mortality rate

American  

[mawr-tal-i-tee reyt] / mɔrˈtæl ɪ ti ˌreɪt /

noun

• mortality rates
  plural

1. the relative frequency of deaths in a specific population during a specified time, often cited as the percentage of human deaths during a public health crisis, or of wildlife deaths due to environmental perils.

   Patients over the age of 80 had the highest mortality rate during the last flu season.

   The mortality rate of the bald eagle falls to about 25 percent after the first year of life.

---

mortality rate British  

noun

1. another term for death rate

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• mortality rates
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mortality rate

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mortality rate

According to the report, there were about 689 deaths for every 100,000 people in 2025 — the lowest rate recorded since mortality rate tracking began.

From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026

The practice fell out of favor by the early 20th century, in part because of the reduced infant mortality rate.

From Slate ● Jul. 19, 2026

By contrast, the measures the U.S. is taking to address this Ebola outbreak—with its high mortality rate and known transmission methods—are scientifically justified, sensitive to the epidemiological facts and specifically tailored to contain the outbreak.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026

Faster chair stand performance was also linked to improved survival, with a 4% lower mortality rate for every 6-second improvement from the slowest to the fastest times.

From Science Daily ● May 12, 2026

When lice were collected and tested, it was found that 5 per cent DDT powder caused no increase in their natural mortality rate.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson