nonfatal

adjective

non·​fa·​tal ˌnän-ˈfā-tᵊl 

: not causing death : not fatal

nonfatal infections

a nonfatal wound

Examples of nonfatal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Those cohort studies showed about a 30% higher risk for both fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular outcomes after statins were discontinued in people 65 and older in the Italy study and 75 and older in the Denmark one. — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said Angelo and Alexus Fiordilino will not be charged in connection with the nonfatal drowning of their son. — ABC News, 30 July 2026

Research has found that victims of nonfatal strangulation face a substantially higher risk of being killed by an abusive partner later. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026

Meanwhile, Minnesota has charged an ICE agent in a nonfatal shooting of a Venezuelan man, also in January. — Juliana Kim, NPR, 22 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nonfatal

• postnatal
• prenatal
• antenatal
• hiatal
• neonatal
• perinatal
• datal
• fatal

Medical Definition

nonfatal

adjective

non·​fa·​tal -ˈfāt-ᵊl 

: not fatal

nonfatal infections