fatal

Everyday

1. Causing death: «a fatal accident». tree →
2. Causing failure or very bad results: «a fatal mistake». tree →

In the lessons

In news and safety lessons: fatal accidents, fatal diseases — warnings about real dangers. In stories and games: «a fatal error», «a fatal flaw» means a mistake or weakness that ruins everything. «Fatal» is serious; it is not used for small problems.

Examples

• The crash was fatal. tree →
• Some mushrooms are fatal if eaten. tree →
• Leaving the door open was a fatal mistake — the hamster escaped. tree →
• The disease can be fatal without treatment. tree →
• The hero's fatal flaw was pride. tree →
• The computer showed a fatal error and shut down. tree →
• His hand closed on the fatal draught. tree →

Note

Adverb: fatally; noun: fatality (a death in an accident). Don't confuse with «fateful» (very important for the future). In maths and statistics, «fatalities» counts deaths.