lethality

American  

[lee-thal-i-tee] / liˈθæl ɪ ti /

Also lethalness

noun

1. the capacity to cause great harm, destruction, or death.

   Many pathogens are self-limited by their own lethality—the host dies before it has a chance to spread the pathogen.

2. the likelihood of causing great harm, destruction, or death.

   Mutations can increase or decrease lethality, but most viruses mutate to less lethal forms.

3. death.

   Prion diseases, such as so-called “mad cow,” are characterized by neurodegeneration and lethality.

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Etymology

Origin of lethality

lethal ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

“We are left with a tragic and paradoxical conclusion: Lethality in one population proved to be the means of survival for another group,” Booss wrote.

From Washington Times • Sep. 22, 2020

The Army’s Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team said prototype models of the Microsoft-engineered goggles are being used to quickly take the temperature of soldiers in training.

From Fox News • May 22, 2020

This year, he formed the Close Combat Lethality Task Force, which is examining how to improve weapons, training and resiliency for infantrymen and others who fight alongside them.

From Washington Post • Oct. 14, 2018

Lethality of WT and airborne-transmissible A/H5N1 virus in ferrets upon inoculation via different routes. n, number of animals; N.A., not applicable.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 21, 2012