Lethality: meaning, definitions and examples
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lethality
[ ləˈθælɪti ]
in medicine
The ability of a disease or injury to cause death. Lethality is often measured by mortality rate.
Synonyms
deadliness, deadly nature, fatality
Examples of usage
- The lethality of the virus was a major concern for public health officials.
- The lethality of the snake's venom is well-known in the region.
in warfare
The capacity of a weapon or a military operation to cause death among the enemy forces.
Synonyms
deadliness, fatalness, kill power
Examples of usage
- The lethality of the new missile system is unmatched in modern warfare.
- The increased lethality of the army's tactics caught the enemy off guard.
Translations
Translations of the word "lethality" in other languages:
🇵🇹 letalidade
🇮🇳 मृत्यु-दर
🇩🇪 Tödlichkeit
🇮🇩 letalitas
🇺🇦 летальність
🇵🇱 śmiertelność
🇯🇵 致死性 (ちしせい)
🇫🇷 létalité
🇪🇸 letalidad
🇹🇷 ölümcüllük
🇰🇷 치명성 (致命性)
🇸🇦 الفتك
🇨🇿 letalita
🇸🇰 letalita
🇨🇳 致死性 (zhìsǐxìng)
🇸🇮 letalnost
🇮🇸 dauðleiki
🇰🇿 өлім-жітім
🇬🇪 ლეტალობა
🇦🇿 letallıq
🇲🇽 letalidad
Word origin
The word 'lethality' originated from the Latin word 'letalis', meaning deadly or fatal. It has been used in various contexts throughout history, reflecting the concept of something having the potential to cause death. Over time, 'lethality' has become particularly associated with fields such as medicine, warfare, and toxicology, where the ability to cause harm or death is a key consideration.
See also: lethally.