Definition of death
1a : a permanent cessation of all vital (see vital 2a) functions : the end of life The cause of death has not been determined. managed to escape death prisoners were put to death death threats — compare brain deathb : an instance of dying a disease causing many deaths lived there until her death
2a : the cause or occasion of loss of life drinking was the death of himb : a cause of ruin the slander that was death to my character — Wilkie Collins The drought was death to the farm.
3 capitalized, folklore : the destroyer of life represented usually as a skeleton with a scythe when death comes to take me away
4 : the state of being no longer alive : the state of being dead
5a : the passing or destruction of something inanimate the death of vaudevilleb : extinction the death of the dinosaurs
6 law : civil death
7 : slaughter death and destruction
8 Christian Science : the lie of life in matter : that which is unreal and untrue
at death's door
to death
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Examples of death in a Sentence
birth, life, and eventual death
The newspaper did not report the cause of death.
People around the world mourned his death.
The accident resulted in two deaths.
The number of deaths from cancer is rising.
He died a violent death.
There has been a death in the family.
The general met his death on the battlefield.
the death of a marriage
Death could be seen lurking in the corner of the painting.
Recent Examples of death from the Web
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The death count has climbed over 60 while thousands of others have been injured or thrown in jail.
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Amid accusations that Noriega was behind Spadafora’s death, Barletta promised an investigation.
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Two days after her death, staff gathered at a simple chapel to pay homage to Lane.
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The 42-year-old Morin was one of four people charged in the death of Ortiz, a father of five.
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In the episode, Mr. Croatti revealed some of his personal life, including his grandfather’s death in an accident involving an industrial clothes washer.
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Elsea was engaged to her Kindergarten sweetheart, Joshua Daniel, at the time of her death and had plans to book her wedding venue a week after the accident.
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That life also brings risks — gang rivalries, arrests, even death.
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After Ailes’s death, Rachel Maddow, MSNBC’s biggest star, delivered a notably unrancorous assessment.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'death'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of death
Middle English deeth, from Old English dēath; akin to Old Norse dauthi death, deyja to die — more at die
DEATH Defined for English Language Learners
death
playDefinition of death for English Language Learners
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: the end of life : the time when someone or something dies
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: the ending of a particular person's life
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: the permanent end of something that is not alive : the ruin or destruction of something
DEATH Defined for Kids
death
playDefinition of death for Students
1 : the end or ending of life
2 : the cause of loss of life Drinking will be the death of him.
3 : the state of being dead He was more famous in death than in life.
4 : 2ruin 1, extinction DVDs meant the death of videotape.
deathlike
\-ˌlīk\ adjectiveMedical Dictionary
death
playMedical Definition of death
1: the irreversible cessation of all vital functions especially as indicated by permanent stoppage of the heart, respiration, and brain activity : the end of life—see brain death
2: the cause or occasion of loss of life drinking was the death of him
3: the state of being dead in death as in life
Law Dictionary
death
Legal Definition of death
: a permanent cessation of all vital bodily functions : the end of life — see also brain death, civil death
Additional Notes on death
Death is usually defined by statute and for purposes of criminal homicide has been held to include brain death.
Learn More about death
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See words that rhyme with death Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for death Spanish Central: Translation of death Nglish: Translation of death for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of death for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about death
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