1
a
: 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.
2
a
: determining one's fate
the fatal flaw in this dazzling woman: a total lack of taste—
Marya Mannes
Marya Mannes
b
: of or relating to fate
… this science sets a fatal necessity on things …—H. O. Taylor
H. O. Taylor
c
: resembling fate in proceeding according to a fixed sequence
3
: fateful
a fatal hour
4
obsolete
: fated
Synonyms
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 Chicago Police Department posted a series of surveillance videos of an unidentified man wanted in the fatal shooting early Sunday, in which 30-year-old Huesca's gun and car were taken after he was gunned down while on his way home after work.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2024
During that time, the U.S. Department of Justice investigated the police department following 33 instances where officers shot people between 2008 and 2011 — including the fatal shooting of seven Black men in eight months.
—Joey Flechas, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2024
The killing was the 46th homicide in Kansas City this year, according to data tracked by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings.
—Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2024
Florida City police arrested 48-year-old Alexander Roque in the fatal shooting on Saturday of his girlfriend, 44-year-old Yessenia Rodriguez Marquez.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
David Samuel Lechner, 46, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in connection with the fatal shooting of his wife, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said in an April 22 news release.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 23 Apr. 2024
And a fatal shooting earlier this year during the Super Bowl victory celebration in Kansas City underscores the danger people in big crowds face, even during the happiest of times, when an idiot with a gun and a grudge starts popping off shots.
—Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024
The Crimes Against Persons Unit is investigating the fatal shooting, according to police.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2024
Dozens of advocates urged board members to close the halls, detailing a litany of scandals in the last year, including eight probation officers placed on leave after allegedly watching a youth get beaten and the fatal overdose of an 18-year-old.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2024
During that time, the U.S. Department of Justice investigated the police department following 33 instances where officers shot people between 2008 and 2011 — including the fatal shooting of seven Black men in eight months.
—Joey Flechas, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2024
The killing was the 46th homicide in Kansas City this year, according to data tracked by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings.
—Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2024
Florida City police arrested 48-year-old Alexander Roque in the fatal shooting on Saturday of his girlfriend, 44-year-old Yessenia Rodriguez Marquez.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
David Samuel Lechner, 46, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in connection with the fatal shooting of his wife, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said in an April 22 news release.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 23 Apr. 2024
And a fatal shooting earlier this year during the Super Bowl victory celebration in Kansas City underscores the danger people in big crowds face, even during the happiest of times, when an idiot with a gun and a grudge starts popping off shots.
—Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024
The Crimes Against Persons Unit is investigating the fatal shooting, according to police.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2024
Dozens of advocates urged board members to close the halls, detailing a litany of scandals in the last year, including eight probation officers placed on leave after allegedly watching a youth get beaten and the fatal overdose of an 18-year-old.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fatal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near fatal
Cite this Entry
“Fatal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fatal. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
Legal Definition
fatal
adjective
fa·tal
1
: causing failure of a legal claim or cause of action
a fatal defect in the proceedings—W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel
W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel2
: 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
J. D. Calamari and J. M. Perillo
fatally
adverb
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