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Definition of fatal

fatal

/ˈfeɪ.təl/
fa · tal
Adverb:fatally
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fatal Lexical Profile

fatal Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Causing or capable of causing death.

Example

"Early detection and treatment prevented the infection from becoming fatal."

2

Leading to failure, ruin, or disaster; having grave or ruinous consequences.

Example

"Overlooking the structural flaw proved to be a fatal mistake for the engineering project."

3

Decisively important or decreed by fate; fateful.

Example

"When the fatal day of the examination finally arrived, the students were well prepared."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for fatal

• Nearby Words

fat
fat hen
fat-tailed gecko
fatal
fatalism
fatalist
fatalistic

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in Middle English from Old French fatal or directly from Latin fatalis, meaning 'ordained by fate' or 'destructive,' derived from fatum ('fate, destiny').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Fatal. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/fatal
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