fatality
Americannoun
-
a disaster resulting in death.
-
a death resulting from such an occurrence.
a rise in highway fatalities.
-
the quality of causing death or disaster; a fatal influence; deadliness.
-
predetermined liability to disaster, misfortune, etc..
a fatality for saying the wrong thing.
-
the quality of being predetermined by or subject to fate.
There is a fatality in human affairs that leads to destruction.
-
the fate or destiny of a person or thing.
Death is the ultimate fatality of all human beings.
-
a fixed, unalterably predetermined course of things; inevitability.
to resign oneself to the fatality of life.
noun
-
an accident or disaster resulting in death
-
a person killed in an accident or disaster
-
the power of causing death or disaster; deadliness
-
the quality or condition of being fated
-
something caused or dictated by fate
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of fatality
From the Late Latin word fātālitās, dating back to 1480–90. See fatal, -ity
Explanation
If you hear on your car radio that there has been a traffic accident up ahead with one fatality, you should be very thankful you were not involved. A fatality is, quite simply and grimly, a human death. You will often hear fatality used in conjunction with the aftermath of a disaster, natural or otherwise. For example, a news broadcaster may say, "We have received reports of at least one fatality as a result of the storm." Fatality has its roots in the Latin word fatalis, meaning "decreed by fate." When it comes to fatality, being in the wrong place at the wrong time can certainly be ill-fated.
Vocabulary lists containing fatality
Tears of a Tiger
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for October 30–November 5, 2021
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Hot Zone
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Global health authorities quickly sought to contain the spread of the virus that carries a high fatality rate.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
There are few reasons for optimism, but scientists do point out that Bundibugyo's fatality rate, of 30%, is lower than for other Ebola species.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
The fatality rate of the virus, commonly cited as around 40 percent, could also be quite different outside of rural areas of Argentina where there may be little health infrastructure, Flahault added.
From Barron's • May 13, 2026
That form of the virus has a fatality rate of up to 35%.
From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026
This was the same kind of fatality rate as was seen with the black plague during the Middle Ages.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
