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

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

The death rate has eclipsed the pace of 2025, which saw nine deaths by the end of February.

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

A similar death rate in the United States would claim about twelve million lives.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden