mortality rate

[mawr-tal-i-tee reyt]

noun

1. the relative frequency of deaths in a specific population during a specified time, often cited as the percentage of human deaths during a public health crisis, or of wildlife deaths due to environmental perils.

   Patients over the age of 80 had the highest mortality rate during the last flu season.

   The mortality rate of the bald eagle falls to about 25 percent after the first year of life.

mortality rate

noun

1. another term for death rate

Word History and Origins

Origin of mortality rate¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

"Given the mortality rates, we know that there must be other families out there who like us feel that children's deaths were preventable," he said.

From BBC

They claimed yearly mortality rates on average were seldom lower than 400.

From BBC

Alissa added that the rollback could overwhelm the healthcare systems in Florida financially and health-wise, leading to increased morbidity and mortality rates.

From Salon

Births, fertility, stillbirth and age-standardised mortality rates are all at their lowest levels since our records began.

From BBC

They continue to suffer high mortality rates from ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear and other causes, including noise pollution and greater difficulty finding prey in warming seas.

From Los Angeles Times