fatal

adjective

Save Word

fa·tal | \ ˈfā-tᵊl

Definition of fatal

1a : causing death a fatal crash a fatal disease a fatal wound

b : bringing ruin a fatal attraction to gambling

c : causing failure a fatal design flaw Lack of sufficient support was fatal to his campaign.

2a : determining one's fate the fatal flaw in this dazzling woman: a total lack of taste— Marya Mannes

b : of or relating to fate … this science sets a fatal necessity on things …— H. O. Taylor

c : resembling fate in proceeding according to a fixed sequence

3 : fateful a fatal hour

4 obsolete : fated

Other Words from fatal Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about fatal

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for fatal

deadly, mortal, fatal, lethal mean causing or capable of causing death. deadly applies to an established or very likely cause of death. a deadly disease mortal implies that death has occurred or is inevitable. a mortal wound fatal stresses the inevitability of what has in fact resulted in death or destruction. fatal consequences lethal applies to something that is bound to cause death or exists for the destruction of life. lethal gas

Examples of fatal in a Sentence

a disease that is often fatal a chemical that can be fatal to birds She made a fatal mistake.

Recent Examples on the Web The agency's special crash investigations unit sent teams to Gardena, California, and near Terre Haute, Indiana, to probe two fatal crashes. — Tom Krisher, USA TODAY, "US auto safety agency examining Tesla unintended acceleration complaint," 18 Jan. 2020 The agency's special crash investigations unit sent teams to Gardena, California, and near Terre Haute, Indiana, to probe two fatal crashes. — Tom Krisher, Fortune, "Driver complaints about Teslas accelerating on their own prompt federal review," 18 Jan. 2020 Boeing has been working on a software fix for the safety system that is believed to be the cause of the two fatal crashes. — Greg Wallace, CNN, "Boeing discovers issue with 737 Max flight computers, source says," 17 Jan. 2020 American, United and Southwest airlines all have cut routes nationwide following the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max 8 in March, after two fatal crashes. — Susan Glaser, cleveland, "Cleveland Hopkins airport passenger traffic hits 10 million in 2019, up 4%," 17 Jan. 2020 The incident was the second fatal wrong-way crash in the Bay Area in as many days after a man was killed Thursday on Highway 1 in Pacifica. — Alejandro Serrano, SFChronicle.com, "Wrong-way driver killed in Hwy. 17 crash in Campbell," 17 Jan. 2020 The agency’s special crash investigations unit sent teams to Gardena, California, and near Terre Haute, Indiana, to probe two fatal crashes. — Tom Krisher, BostonGlobe.com, "US agency examining Tesla unintended acceleration complaint," 17 Jan. 2020 Rett had just celebrated her birthday a day before the fatal crash. — Jordan Freiman, CBS News, "Holy Cross women's rowing team member killed in Florida crash," 15 Jan. 2020 Marijuana's role in crashes The number of fatal vehicle crashes in which drivers tested positive for cannabis more than doubled from 2007 to 2016, rising from 8 percent to 18 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. — Linda Carroll, NBC News, "Even when sober, frequent marijuana users are dangerous drivers, report finds," 15 Jan. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fatal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about fatal

Dictionary Entries near fatal

Statistics for fatal

Last Updated

22 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Fatal.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fatal. Accessed 23 January 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for fatal

fatal

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of fatal

: causing death

: causing ruin or failure

See the full definition for fatal in the English Language Learners Dictionary

fatal

adjective

fa·tal | \ ˈfā-tᵊl

Kids Definition of fatal

1 : causing death : mortal fatal injuries

2 : causing ruin or failure a fatal mistake

fatal

adjective

fa·tal | \ ˈfāt-ᵊl

Medical Definition of fatal

: causing death a fatal diabetic coma— Havelock Ellis

Keep scrolling for more

fatal

adjective

fa·tal

Legal Definition of fatal

1 : causing failure of a legal claim or cause of action a fatal defect in the proceedings— W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel

2 : making something (as a contract) invalid or unenforceable there is a fatal indefiniteness with the result that the agreement is void— J. D. Calamari and J. M. Perillo

Keep scrolling for more