mortality
mor-TAL-ih-tee
/mɔːrˈtælɪti/
The state of being subject to death; the relative frequency of deaths in a specific population.
Specifically quantifies death, death rates, or the inescapable human condition of being mortal.
The story behind the word. Traced to Latin 'mortalitas', from 'mortalis' (subject to death), stemming from 'mors' (death). Rooted in Proto-Indo-European '*mer-', which produced words for death across dozens of languages.
Word relationships
- death rate: Death rate is a general phrase; mortality rate is the standard demographic term.
- fatality: Fatality refers to deaths resulting from a specific accident or disease event.
- immortality: Ability to live forever.
Commonly confused with
- morbidity: Mortality measures DEATH; morbidity measures SICKNESS.
Word family
- mortal (adjective): Subject to death; causing death.
- mortally (adverb): In a way that causes death.
- immortal (adjective): Living forever.
Collocations
- mortality rate
- infant mortality
- confront mortality
- mortality statistics
Idioms & expressions
- shuffle off this mortal coil
Example sentences
- "Improvements in sanitation and infant nutrition contributed to a sharp decline in child mortality over the last century." Demographics
- "Facing a terminal diagnosis forced the protagonist to confront his own mortality with newfound clarity." Philosophical literature
Memory hook
MORTality = MORTAL kombat (death is the ultimate outcome). Mort = Death (like mortuary, mortician).
When not to use
Do not use to describe general illness or disease rates that do not result in death.
Fun facts
- In 1662, John Graunt published the first mortality tables in London, analyzing church burial registries to calculate life expectancy.
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