fatally
Americanadverb
-
in a manner leading to death or disaster.
He was injured fatally in the accident.
-
by a decree of fate or destiny; by inevitable predetermination.
adverb
-
resulting in death or disaster
fatally wounded in battle
-
as decreed by fate; inevitably
Etymology
Origin of fatally
late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at fatal, -ly
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.
A man who was fatally shot by immigration agents at a traffic stop in Houston on Tuesday was not the intended target, US officials say.
From BBC • Jul. 10, 2026
The son of a Mexican man fatally shot by US immigration officials in Texas demanded an investigation on Wednesday, with a leading civil rights group calling it a "possible murder."
From Barron's • Jul. 8, 2026
"We're writing to government to tell them that the DBS system is fatally flawed," she said.
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026
In throwing out the guilty verdict, the state supreme court found that jury deliberations were fatally flawed by improper remarks by Becky Hill, then the Colleton County clerk of court.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
Vivian had meant Ronald Reagan, who was shot, but not fatally.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
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.
