mortality

Everyday

1. Mortality is the fact that every living thing will one day die. tree →
2. Mortality is also the number of deaths in a group or a place over a time, often called the mortality rate. tree →

In the lessons

In science, history and geography, «infant mortality» (babies dying young) fell a lot because of clean water and vaccines. In religion, ethics and stories, mortality means thinking about life being short. Common phrases: «infant mortality», «mortality rate», «human mortality», «face your own mortality».

Examples

• Infant mortality was very high in Victorian times. tree →
• Vaccines lowered the mortality rate from measles. tree →
• Seeing the old tree fall made Grandpa think about his own mortality. tree →
• Mortality among the young birds was high in the cold spring. tree →
• Doctors study mortality to find which illnesses are most dangerous. tree →
• Christians believe that Jesus' resurrection gives hope beyond mortality. tree →

Note

Mostly uncountable. The opposite is «immortality» (living for ever). Adjective: «mortal». In maths, a mortality rate is usually given as a number per 1000 people or as a percentage.