What does nonfatal mean?
Nonfatal means that something does not cause or result in death. The word is especially common in reports of accidents, illnesses, conflicts, and medical conditions, where it distinguishes serious harm from an outcome that is fatal. Saying that an injury or accident was nonfatal can reassure readers about the absence of deaths, but it should not be taken to mean that no one was hurt or that the consequences were unimportant. A nonfatal illness may still require extensive treatment, and a nonfatal error may cause significant disruption. In everyday use, the term often carries a more reassuring implication than its strictly literal definition, so writers may add clarifying details when precision matters.
adjectiveNot causing or resulting in death; serious or potentially serious but not lethal.
- Not causing, resulting in, or ending in death.
"The accident caused only nonfatal injuries, although two passengers required hospital treatment."
"He survived the crash with nonfatal injuries."
"The software update corrected a nonfatal error that had prevented several files from saving."
Nonfatal does not mean harmless: a serious accident can be nonfatal and still cause lasting damage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nonfatal come from?
The word is formed by combining the prefix non-, meaning “not,” with fatal, an adjective from the Latin fatalis, derived from fatum, meaning “fate” or “destiny.” The combination has been used in English since the early 19th century. Its underlying vocabulary is shared with related forms such as fatality and fatally, while immortal reflects a different Latin root but belongs to the same broad family of words concerned with death and mortality.
How nonfatal is actually used
Nonfatal is commonly used for injuries, accidents, diseases, errors, and consequences. It indicates that death is not the outcome, but it does not imply that the situation is minor or inconsequential.