fatality

Everyday

1. A fatality is a death caused by an accident, war, disaster or violence. tree →
2. (formal) Fatality is the quality of causing death: «the fatality of the disease». tree →
3. A fatality can also mean a strange, unlucky chance that seems to be meant to happen. tree →

In the lessons

In the news and safety lessons it is used to count deaths: «There were no fatalities in the crash». It is a serious, formal word used in reports. In geography it comes with earthquakes, floods and storms. Phrases: «no fatalities», «road fatalities».

Examples

• Luckily, there were no fatalities in the fire. tree →
• Wearing seat belts reduces road fatalities. tree →
• The storm caused three fatalities. tree →
• Fatalities from the disease have fallen thanks to vaccines. tree →
• The report gave the number of fatalities. tree →
• The crossing was made safer after a fatality last year. tree →
• But here a strange fatality occurred. tree →

Note

Countable: a fatality, fatalities (y → ies). Adjective: fatal (causing death). Formal word, used in the news; everyday word: death. A «fatal» mistake in a game or story may just mean a very bad one, not a death.