fatality
fuh-TA-luh-tih
Fatality (noun) means a death caused by an accident, disaster, or violence. Example: “The storm caused widespread damage but no fatalities.”
noun
1
A death caused by an accident, disaster, or violence.
"The storm caused widespread damage but no fatalities."
"Police reported three fatalities in the motorway pile-up."
2
(video games) A finishing move used to dramatically defeat an opponent.
"He pulled off a brutal fatality to end the Mortal Kombat match."
How to use fatality
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA death resulting from an accident or disaster, or a finishing move in a fighting game.
Common pairings
road fatality
the fatality count
zero fatalities
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Word forms
- Plural
- fatalities
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He pulled off a brutal _____ to end the Mortal Kombat match.
Etymology
From French fatalité, built from "fatal" plus "-ity"; the video-game sense comes from the Mortal Kombat series.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for fatality
See all rhymes for fatality →Frequently asked questions
What does “fatality” mean?
The word “fatality” means a death caused by an accident, disaster, or violence. In plain terms, a death resulting from an accident or disaster, or a finishing move in a fighting game.
How do you pronounce “fatality”?
“Fatality” is pronounced fuh-TA-luh-tih (/feɪˈtælɪti/ in IPA).
How do you use “fatality” in a sentence?
Here is “fatality” used in a sentence: “He pulled off a brutal fatality to end the Mortal Kombat match.”
What part of speech is “fatality”?
“Fatality” is a noun.
Where does the word “fatality” come from?
The word “fatality” comes from French. From French fatalité, built from "fatal" plus "-ity"; the video-game sense comes from the Mortal Kombat series.
Is “fatality” a common word?
“Fatality” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “fatality” have?
“Fatality” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a death caused by an accident, disaster, or violence.
