ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Fatal

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈfeɪ.təl/ · Part of speech adjective

Quick meaning: Fatal is an adjective meaning Causing death or destruction.

Meaning

Causing death or destruction.

More Meanings

  1. (computing) Causing a sudden end to the running of a program.
  2. A fatality; an event that leads to death.
  3. (computing) A fatal error; a failure that causes a program to terminate.
  4. (rare, archaic) Proceeding from, or appointed by, fate or destiny.
  5. (rare, archaic) Foreboding death or great disaster.

Example Sentences

a fatal error; a fatal exception
a fatal wound; a fatal disease; that fatal day; a fatal mistake
For this reason, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that spinach be cooked at 160º for 15 seconds, which kills potentially fatal bacteria.
She mixed furniture with the same fatal profligacy as she mixed drinks, and this outrageous contact between things which were intended by Nature to be kept poles apart gave her an inexpressible thrill.

Word Forms

Synonyms for fatal

Depending on context, synonyms include inevitable, necessary, avoidless, certain, foregone, impreventable.

Antonyms for fatal

Common opposites include nonfatal.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include fateful, decisive, inevitable, calamitous, disastrous, black.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.