Meaning of fatal in English

1. Pronunciation

   /ˈfeɪdl/

   US accent

   How to pronounce fatal in American English, in context ▾
   Use the controls below to browse different examples of pronunciation.

   UK accent

   How to pronounce fatal in British English, in context ▾
   Use the controls below to browse different examples of pronunciation.

1. Classifying Adjective

   fatal

   Definitions

   1. having momentous consequences

   Examples

   • « of decisive importance »
   • « that fateful meeting of the U.N. when...it declared war on North Korea- Saturday Rev »
   • « the fatal day of the election finally arrived »

   Synonyms

   • decisive
2. 2. (of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences

   Examples

   • « bringing ruin »
   • « the stock market crashed on Black Friday »
   • « a calamitous defeat »
   • « the battle was a disastrous end to a disastrous campaign »
   • « such doctrines, if true, would be absolutely fata »

   Synonyms

   • unfortunate
3. 3. controlled or decreed by fate

   Examples

   • « predetermined »
   • « a fatal series of events »

   Synonyms

   • inevitable

4. Qualitative Adjective

   fatal

   Etymology

   late Middle English (in the senses ‘destined by fate’ and ‘ominous’): from Old French, or from Latin fatalis, from fatum (see fate)

   Definitions

   1. bringing death

   Synonyms

   • deadly
   • deathly
   • mortal
   • deadly
   • lethal
   • terminal

   Antonyms

   • nonfatal