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

• victim
• casualty

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

Surf zone fatalities So far in 2025, at least 25 rip current deaths have been reported by the weather service, as well as four deaths from high surf. —Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025

In 2024, Kentucky reported nearly 5,700 distracted-driving related crashes, including 27 fatalities. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Aug. 2025

The ferocity of the wind and the limited evacuation options along the island chain contributed to the high fatality count. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2025

From 2013 through 2018, the researchers tracked 25,608 non-fatal injuries to pedestrians and 291 fatalities across the 6,003 intersections. —Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 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

Rhymes for fatality

• banality
• bestiality
• brutality
• carnality
• centrality
• chirality
• duality
• finality
• formality
• frugality
• legality
• lethality

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