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Fatal: meaning, definitions and examples

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fatal

 

[ ˈfeɪtl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

accident

causing or capable of causing death

Synonyms

deadly, lethal, mortal

Examples of usage

  • a fatal accident
  • a fatal disease
Context #2 | Adjective

consequence

leading to disaster

Synonyms

catastrophic, disastrous, ruinous

Examples of usage

  • a fatal mistake
  • a fatal decision
Context #3 | Adjective

serious

extremely important

Synonyms

critical, decisive, pivotal

Examples of usage

  • a fatal flaw
  • a fatal error

Translations

Translations of the word "fatal" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fatal

🇮🇳 घातक

🇩🇪 tödlich

🇮🇩 fatal

🇺🇦 фатальний

🇵🇱 śmiertelny

🇯🇵 致命的

🇫🇷 fatal

🇪🇸 fatal

🇹🇷 ölümcül

🇰🇷 치명적인

🇸🇦 قاتل

🇨🇿 smrtelný

🇸🇰 smrteľný

🇨🇳 致命的

🇸🇮 usoden

🇮🇸 banvænn

🇰🇿 өлімге апаратын

🇬🇪 ფატალური

🇦🇿 ölümcül

🇲🇽 fatal

Etymology

The word 'fatal' originated from the Latin word 'fatalis', meaning 'decree of fate'. It was first used in the 15th century to describe something having the quality of causing death or disaster. Over time, the word has evolved to encompass a broader range of meanings, including serious consequences and importance.

See also: fatalist, fated.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,874, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.