mortal

1 of 3

adjective

mor·​tal ˈmȯr-tᵊl How to pronounce mortal (audio)
1
: causing or having caused death : fatal
a mortal injury
2
a
: subject to death
mortal man
Every living creature is mortal.
b
: possible, conceivable
have done every mortal thing
c
: deadly sense 3
waited three mortal hours
3
: marked by unrelenting hostility
a mortal enemy
4
: marked by great intensity or severity
mortal fear
5
: human
mortal limits
a nobody with an all too mortal longing to be a somebodyTime
6
: of, relating to, or connected with death
mortal agony

mortal

2 of 3

adverb

chiefly dialectal

mortal

3 of 3

noun

: a human being
Choose the Right Synonym for mortal

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 mortal in a Sentence

Adjective Every living creature is mortal. He suffered a mortal wound in the battle. Noun stories about gods interfering in the lives of mortals the troubles that come to ordinary mortals
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Unfortunately, some of the OG cast have shuffled off this mortal coil, including Bob Barker and Carl Weathers. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025 Lives that simply march towards a mortal end are not ready for the mysterious Joanne (television actor Shakina), a trans woman bursting onto the scene who seems to know a lot about the group’s past, known 20 years ago to the group as Joe. David John Chávez, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
Noun
Sirens is smartest when paralleling the entitlement of 21st century American wealth with Ancient Greek divinity, skewering the insularity and entitlement of these modern plutocrats who throw galas to honor themselves and to torment or seduce the mortals who are their employees and playthings. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025 Certainly, easier said than done by us mere mortals, but with trying. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mortal

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Adverb

Middle English, from Anglo-French mortel, mortal, from Latin mortalis, from mort-, mors death — more at murder

Noun

see human entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mortal was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mortal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mortal. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

mortal

1 of 2 adjective
mor·​tal ˈmȯrt-ᵊl How to pronounce mortal (audio)
1
: capable of causing death
a mortal wound
2
: certain to die
animals are mortal
3
: extremely unfriendly
a mortal enemy
4
: very great or severe
in mortal fear
5
: human entry 1 sense 1
mortal limitations
6
: of, relating to, or connected with death
mortal agony
mortally
-ᵊl-ē
adverb

mortal

2 of 2 noun
: a human being

Medical Definition

mortal

adjective
mor·​tal ˈmȯrt-ᵊl How to pronounce mortal (audio)
1
: having caused or being about to cause death : fatal
a mortal injury
2
: of, relating to, or connected with death
mortal agony

More from Merriam-Webster on mortal

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