Words / B2

f-uh-TAL-uh-tee/fəˈtæləti/

A fatality is a death caused by an accident, conflict, or disaster: road fatalities; no fatalities were reported. Death is the everyday word; fatality is news and official. Fatal is the adjective (already in the dictionary). Inquests record fatalities. Do not use it for a failed exam.

Meaning

A death caused by an accident, war, or disaster.

Examples

• “The inquest recorded two fatalities on the school run that week.”
• “The crash caused injuries but no fatalities, which is a typical bulletin line.”

Good to know

road / civilian fatalities; no fatalities. Adjective: fatal. Everyday: death. Official and news register. Countable. Not a metaphor for a bad grade.

Near in meaning

death

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