fatality

[fey-tal-i-tee, fuh-]

noun

plural

fatalities 

1. a disaster resulting in death.

2. a death resulting from such an occurrence.

   a rise in highway fatalities.

3. the quality of causing death or disaster; a fatal influence; deadliness.

4. predetermined liability to disaster, misfortune, etc..

   a fatality for saying the wrong thing.

5. the quality of being predetermined by or subject to fate.

   There is a fatality in human affairs that leads to destruction.

6. the fate or destiny of a person or thing.

   Death is the ultimate fatality of all human beings.

7. a fixed, unalterably predetermined course of things; inevitability.

   to resign oneself to the fatality of life.

fatality

/ fəˈtælɪtɪ /

noun

1. an accident or disaster resulting in death

2. a person killed in an accident or disaster

3. the power of causing death or disaster; deadliness

4. the quality or condition of being fated

5. something caused or dictated by fate

Other Word Forms

• nonfatality noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fatality¹

From the Late Latin word fātālitās, dating back to 1480–90. See fatal, -ity

Example Sentences

Namibia has one of the highest road traffic fatality rates in the world.

From BBC

The identities of the slain journalists have been confirmed but we know little about the other fatalities.

From BBC

Authorities have yet to release the total number of fatalities.

From BBC

Immigrant rights advocates voiced their anger following the fatality.

From Los Angeles Times

Community leaders in Koreatown believe that autonomous vehicle technology, which can see other road users and make safety-based decisions, could significantly decrease fatalities in high-risk areas where human error and impaired driving contribute to crashes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accident 
• casualty 
• disaster 
• mortality