fatally

adverb

fa·​tal·​ly ˈfā-tᵊl-ē 

1

: in a way determined by fate

2

: in a manner suggesting fate or an act of fate: such as

a

: in a manner resulting in death : mortally

fatally wounded

b

: beyond repair : irrevocably

c

: in a manner resulting in ruin or evil

it is fatally easy to pass off our prejudices as our opinions

—W. F. Hambly

d

: in a manner that cannot be easily resisted

thinks she is fatally attractive

—J. W. Krutch

Examples of fatally in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to authorities, the mother, who USA TODAY is not naming to protect the privacy of the surviving children involved, fatally shot her 3-year-old daughter and her 13-year-old son. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025

In September, Jahday Humphrey was fatally shot in the afternoon at The Alley at Latta Arcade on Brevard Court. —Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2025

At least 14 people were shot, two fatally, at an intersection near downtown Montgomery, Alabama, early Sunday, according to police. —Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2025

Police arrested Myairah Carter, 25, on a charge of homicide, accused of fatally gunning down 26-year-old Rayon Williams during a verbal altercation, WPXI reported. —Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fatally

• postnatally
• prenatally