fatal

adjective

fa·​tal ˈfā-tᵊl 

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

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

Synonyms

• calamitous
• cataclysmal
• cataclysmic
• catastrophic
• damning
• destructive
• disastrous
• fateful
• ruinous
• unfortunate

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

Example Sentences

a disease that is often fatal

a chemical that can be fatal to birds

She made a fatal mistake.

Recent Examples on the Web

One of seven people charged in connection with the August fatal shooting of 32-year-old Jordan Wiggins in Quincy is slated for arraignment on murder and other counts in connection with the case, prosecutors said. —Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Jan. 2023

Then, in October 2021, Alec was involved in an accidental fatal shooting while filming Rust. —Meg Walters, Peoplemag, 23 Jan. 2023

That teen was not connected to Andre’s fatal shooting. —Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 23 Jan. 2023

Seven people were also arrested and charged with domestic terrorism following the fatal shooting. —Will Mcduffie, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2023

Another man, Ryan Vest, has already been arrested and charged with murder in the fatal shooting. —Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 21 Jan. 2023

Baldwin — who authorities said discharged the prop gun that led to the fatal shooting — could face a five-year prison sentence if a jury convicted him on one of the charges. —Anousha Sakouistaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2023

Oklahoma state police are investigating the fatal shooting of a Sudanese worker by local police officers at a pork processing plant earlier this month. —Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2023

The Coosa County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in investigating a fatal shooting. —Mike Cason | [e-mail], al, 21 Jan. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin fatalis, from fatum fate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing fatal

• dealt a fatal blow

• dealt a fatal blow

Kids Definition

fatal

adjective

fa·​tal ˈfāt-ᵊl 

1

: deciding one's fate : fateful

on that fatal day

2

: causing death or ruin

a fatal accident

fatally

-ᵊl-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

fatal

adjective

fa·​tal ˈfāt-ᵊl 

: causing death

a fatal diabetic coma

—Havelock Ellis

fatally

ˈfāt-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

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

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

fatally adverb