mortality

American  

[mawr-tal-i-tee] / mɔrˈtæl ɪ ti /

noun

mortalities plural

1. the state or condition of being subject to death; mortal character, nature, or existence.

2. the relative frequency of deaths in a specific population; death rate.

3. mortal beings collectively; humanity.

4. death or destruction on a large scale, as from war, plague, or famine.

5. Obsolete. death.

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mortality British  

/ mɔːˈtælɪtɪ /

noun

1. the condition of being mortal

2. great loss of life, as in war or disaster

3. the number of deaths in a given period

4. mankind; humanity

5. an obsolete word for death

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Usage

What’s the difference between mortality and morbidity? In a medical context, the word mortality refers to relative frequency of deaths in a specific population or location (sometimes called the mortality rate), while the word morbidity refers to the incidence or prevalence of a disease in a specific population or location (sometimes called the morbidity rate). The related word cormorbidity is used in medical contexts to refer to the state of having multiple medical conditions at the same time. In this context, morbidity relates to sickness, while mortality relates to death. Both morbidity and mortality are also used in nontechnical ways. Morbidity is the noun form of the adjective morbid, which most commonly means excessively gloomy or having an unusual interest in dark subjects, like death. Morbidity, then, can be used to refer to the quality of having this interest, as in Her latest novel lacks the morbidity of her earlier works. Mortality, on the other hand, most commonly refers to the state or condition of being subject to death, as in Humans are aware of their own mortality. The opposite of this is immortality—unending life. Here’s an example of mortality and morbidity used correctly in the same sentence. Example: Studies show that while the morbidity in the region remains quite high, the mortality rate from the disease has continued to drop. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between mortality and morbidity.

Etymology

Origin of mortality

1300–50; Middle English mortalite < Middle French < Latin mortālitās. See mortal, -ity

Explanation

One of the most difficult things for a child is experiencing the death of a beloved pet; it's a hard lesson in mortality. Mortality is the quality of being mortal, or the reality of death. It's not easy for most people to come to terms with their own mortality, or the fact that they really will die someday. Mortality can refer to an individual or to a larger group of people, particularly when you're talking about the total number of deaths within a population, using the phrase mortality rate. The words mortality and mortal come from the Latin root mortis, or "death."

Example Sentences

Russia remains marked by some of the developed world’s harshest mortality rates.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

Researchers adapted a technique widely used to study heat and human health to establish the first "statistically validated association between ambient temperature and koala mortality", the study said.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

In that group, women treated with beta blockers had a 2.7 percent higher absolute risk of mortality during 3.7 years of follow-up compared with women who were not treated with beta blockers.

From Science Daily • May 25, 2026

"On one hand," says Prof Geisbet, "it's good that the mortality rate, historically, for Bundibugyo has been lower."

From BBC • May 22, 2026

For years, Elizebeth had taken danger in stride, but now she was finding it harder to dodge questions of mortality.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Related Words

• fatality