mortality rate

noun

plural mortality rates

: the ratio between deaths and individuals in a specified population and during a particular time period : the incidence of deaths in a given population during a defined time period (such as one year) that is typically expressed per 1000 or 100,000 individuals : death rate

an annual mortality rate of 15 deaths per 1000 people

Note: A crude mortality rate does not distinguish between specific causes of death or groups of individuals and measures the incidence of all deaths in a population during a given time period. More specific mortality rates are based on narrower categories of individuals or causes of death.

an infant mortality rate of 9 deaths per 1000 live births

mortality rates of lung cancer patients

infectious disease mortality rates

Examples of mortality rate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In contrast, hospitals exposed to market competition proactively reduced their all-cause mortality rates and length of stay. —Ge Bai, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

Key Takeaways Cancer mortality rates have dropped by a third over the past 30 years, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society. —Lisa Rapaport, EverydayHealth.com, 21 Jan. 2025

Facing greater risk during a disaster According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the mortality rate for disabled people during a natural disaster is two to four times higher than the general population. —Esme Mazzeo, CNN, 18 Jan. 2025

Then, the researchers standardized and screened the study members for a variety of factors and looked at their mortality rates and causes of death. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

mortality rate

noun

: the ratio between deaths and individuals in a specified population and during a particular time period : the incidence of deaths in a given population during a defined time period (such as one year) that is typically expressed per 1000 or 100,000 individuals : death rate

an annual mortality rate of 15 deaths per 1000 people

Note: A crude mortality rate does not distinguish between specific causes of death or groups of individuals and measures the incidence of all deaths in a population during a given time period. More specific mortality rates are based on narrower categories of individuals or causes of death.

mortality rates of liver cancer patients

an infant mortality rate of 9 deaths per 1000 live births