mortality

noun

mor·​tal·​i·​ty mȯr-ˈta-lə-tē How to pronounce mortality (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being mortal
Her husband's death reminded her of her own mortality.
2
: the death of large numbers (as of people or animals)
trying to reduce infant mortality
3
archaic : death
4
: the human race
that natural extinction to which all mortality is subjectThomas Paine
5
a
: the number of deaths in a population during a given time or place : the proportion of deaths to population : mortality rate
The mortality among the infected mounted daily.
b
: the number lost or the rate of loss or failure
the mortality rate of small businesses

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Thoughts on Mortality

Young people tend to assume they will never die, but a person's sense of his or her mortality generally increases year by year, and often increases greatly after a serious accident or illness. Still, many people refuse to change behaviors that would improve their chances of living into old age. Mortality rates are calculated by government agencies, insurance companies, and medical researchers. Infant mortality rates (the rate at which infants die in childbirth) provide a good indicator of a country's overall health; in recent years, the rates in countries like Iceland, Singapore, and Japan have been much better than in the U.S.

Examples of mortality in a Sentence

a leading cause of mortality
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On top of that, the report concluded (with moderate certainty) that when compared with never drinking, moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular mortality in both men and women. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025 That includes a University of Houston study of maternal mortality that examines why Black, Indigenous and other people of color in the U.S. are nearly three times as likely as white women to die during pregnancy or within the first year after childbirth. Agnel Philip, ProPublica, 28 Feb. 2025 The rate of maternal mortality cases in Texas rose by 56% from 2019 to 2022, while the rate rose 11% nationwide, per a 2024 analysis by the Gender Equity Policy Institute. Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi, Axios, 21 Feb. 2025 From sitting and sobbing to contemplating his own mortality, Benny Blanco’s showers have it all. Bailey Richards, People.com, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mortality

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mortality was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Mortality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mortality. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

mortality

noun
mor·​tal·​i·​ty mȯr-ˈtal-ət-ē How to pronounce mortality (audio)
plural mortalities
1
: the quality or state of being mortal
2
: the death of large numbers (as of animals or people)
3
a
: the number of deaths in a given time or place
b
: the ratio of deaths occurring in a certain time in a given population to the number of individuals in the population

Medical Definition

mortality

noun
mor·​tal·​i·​ty mȯr-ˈtal-ət-ē How to pronounce mortality (audio)
plural mortalities
1
: the quality or state of being mortal
2
: the number of deaths in a population during a given time or place : the proportion of deaths to population : mortality rate compare morbidity sense 2
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