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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:

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

In poorer regions, such as Buryatia in eastern Siberia, and Tuva in southern Siberia, the death rate is 27 to 33 times higher respectively than in the capital.

From BBC Feb. 19, 2026

In the U.S., the cancer death rate overall for people under 50 fell 44% between 1990 and 2023.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 22, 2026

Cities receiving their drinking water from rivers had a higher death rate from cancer than did those whose water came from sources presumably less susceptible to pollution such as wells.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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