fatal

fa·tal

Use fatal in a sentence

adjective

The definition of fatal is something that causes death or that leads to failure or disaster.

When you are shot in the head, this is an example of a wound that could be described as fatal.

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"fatal." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/fatal>.

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fatal. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/fatal

fatal

Obs. fated; destined; inevitable
important in its outcome; fateful; decisive: the fatal day arrived
resulting in death
very destructive; most unfortunate; disastrous
concerned with or determining fate

Origin of fatal

Middle English from Old French and from Classical Latin fatalis from fatum, fate

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"fatal." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/fatal>.

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fatal. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/fatal

fatal

adjective

Causing or capable of causing death.
Causing ruin or destruction; disastrous: “Such doctrines, if true, would be absolutely fatal to my theory” ( Charles Darwin )
Of decisive importance; fateful: came through at the fatal moment.
Concerning or determining one's fate: the fatal thread of life.
Obsolete Having been destined; fated.

Origin of fatal

Middle English fateful from Old French from Latin fātālis from fātum prophecy, doom ; see fate .

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"fatal." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/fatal>.

APA Style

fatal. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/fatal

fatal

fatal deadly mortal lethal

These adjectives apply to what causes or is likely to cause death. Fatal describes conditions, circumstances, or events that have caused or are destined to cause death or dire consequences: a fatal illness. Deadly means capable of killing: a deadly poison. Mortal describes a condition or action that produces death: a mortal wound. Lethal refers to a sure agent of death that may have been created solely for the purpose of killing: execution by lethal injection.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

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MLA Style

"fatal." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/fatal>.

APA Style

fatal. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/fatal

Adjective

(not comparable)

Proceeding from, or appointed by, fate or destiny.
Foreboding death or great disaster.
Causing death or destruction.
a fatal wound; a fatal disease; a fatal day; a fatal error
(computing) Causing a sudden end to the running of a program.
a fatal error; a fatal exception

Noun

(plural fatals)

A fatality; an event that leads to death.
(computing) A fatal error; a failure that causes a program to terminate.

Origin

From Middle French fatal, from Latin fātālis (“fatal”).

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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Link to this page

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MLA Style

"fatal." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/fatal>.

APA Style

fatal. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/fatal

fatal - Legal Definition

adj

Deadly, causing actual or metaphorical death; causing the undoing of a claim, assertion, or legal document (“a fatal flaw in the pleading”). See also fatal defect.