fatality

noun

fa·​tal·​i·​ty fā-ˈta-lə-tē 

fə-

plural fatalities

1

a

: the quality or state of causing death or destruction

b

: the quality or condition of being destined for disaster

2

: something established by fate

3

a

: fate sense 1

b

: fatalism

4

: the agent or agency of fate

5

a

: death resulting from a disaster

b

: one that experiences a fatal outcome

Synonyms

• casualty
• loss
• prey
• victim

Examples of fatality in a Sentence

The car crash caused one fatality and several serious injuries.

the grim reminder that every holiday weekend inevitably results in a slew of highway fatalities

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the Chicago Department of Transportation, 68% of traffic fatalities in 2023 involved speeding. —Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025

Sacramento hit-and-run fatalities from 2018-2022 Nearly 140 people were killed in hit-and-run crashes in Sacramento County between 2018 and 2022, according to a Sacramento Bee analysis of law enforcement and coroner reports. —Ryan Lillis, Sacramento Bee, 17 Jan. 2025

While the figures do not differentiate between militants and civilians, women and children are reported to comprise more than half of the fatalities. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025

Sixteen fatalities have been confirmed, and more than 4,600 structures are estimated to be damaged or destroyed. —Tracy Wright, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French fatalité, from Late Latin fatalitat-, fatalitas, from Latin fatalis

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing fatality

• case fatality rate
• case fatality ratio
• fatality rate

Kids Definition

fatality

noun

fa·​tal·​i·​ty fā-ˈtal-ət-ē 

fə-

plural fatalities

: a death resulting from a disaster or accident

Medical Definition

fatality

noun

fa·​tal·​i·​ty fā-ˈtal-ət-ē, fə- 

plural fatalities

1

: the quality or state of causing death or destruction : deadliness

the degree of fatality of a disease

2

a

: death resulting from a disaster

a car crash causing several fatalities

b

: one who suffers such a death

one of the fatalities was a small child