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

Evidence suggests that if individuals could only take advantage of the prevention, early detection, and cancer treatment strategies that exist today, the cancer mortality rate would decline by 30% to 50%. —Karen Knudsen, American Cancer Society Ceo, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2024

In 2022, the cancer mortality rate was the second highest in the U.S., at 177 deaths per 100,000 people. —Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 9 Oct. 2024

Among a study of 11 wealthy nations, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate. —Daliah Singer, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Oct. 2024

Breast cancer mortality rates have plunged in recent decades thanks in large part to improvements in screening and treatment options — but the number of new cases continues to rise. —Lisa Rapaport, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Oct. 2024

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