nonfatal
adjective
non·fa·tal
ˌnän-ˈfā-tᵊl 
: not causing death : not fatal
nonfatal infections
a nonfatal wound
Examples of nonfatal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The story has been decades in the making as the Colombian government tried multiple nonfatal methods of culling the hippo population, including neutering and relocating.
—
Carlie Procell, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
More recently, in Los Angeles County, a nonfatal snakebite occurred on April 18 in Palos Verdes Estates as a woman was picking flowers in the Paseo Del Campo open space, according to the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Homicide and nonfatal shooting totals fell again in 2023, but the city was roiled by robbery and carjacking crews responsible for an overall uptick in violence.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Clear warning signs for domestic violence homicides Four of the most dangerous warning signs that a woman is at risk of being murdered by an intimate partner are firearm access, separation, prior nonfatal strangulation and stalking.
—Kathryn Spearman, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nonfatal
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.
Carlie Procell, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
More recently, in Los Angeles County, a nonfatal snakebite occurred on April 18 in Palos Verdes Estates as a woman was picking flowers in the Paseo Del Campo open space, according to the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Homicide and nonfatal shooting totals fell again in 2023, but the city was roiled by robbery and carjacking crews responsible for an overall uptick in violence.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Clear warning signs for domestic violence homicides Four of the most dangerous warning signs that a woman is at risk of being murdered by an intimate partner are firearm access, separation, prior nonfatal strangulation and stalking.
—Kathryn Spearman, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nonfatal
Cite this Entry
“Nonfatal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonfatal. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
nonfatal
adjective
non·fa·tal
-ˈfāt-ᵊl
: not fatal
nonfatal infections
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
