death rate

American  

[deth reyt] / ˈdɛθ ˌreɪt /

noun

1. mortality rate.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of death rate

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

death rate

The death rate fell 4.6% last year, to 689.2 deaths per 100,000 people, down from 722.1 in 2024, according to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

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

Hantavirus is suspected of spreading aboard a luxury cruise ship, killing three passengers and sparking new concerns as a once obscure disease, with an extraordinarily high death rate, rises amid changing climate conditions.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026

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

From Salon ● Mar. 1, 2026

The pet-hour death rate of driving versus flying, however, is about equal.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt