1
a
: a permanent cessation of all vital (see vital sense 2a) functions : the end of life
The cause of death has not been determined.
managed to escape death
prisoners were put to death
death threats
compare brain death
b
: an instance of dying
a disease causing many deaths
lived there until her death
2
a
: the cause or occasion of loss of life
drinking was the death of him
b
: a cause of ruin
the slander that was death to my character—
Wilkie Collins
Wilkie CollinsThe drought was death to the farm.
3
capitalized folklore
: the destroyer of life represented usually as a skeleton with a scythe
when death comes to take me away
4
: the state of being no longer alive : the state of being dead
5
a
: the passing or destruction of something inanimate
the death of vaudeville
b
: extinction
the death of the dinosaurs
6
law
: civil death
7
: slaughter
death and destruction
8
Christian Science
: the lie of life in matter : that which is unreal and untrue
Phrases
at death's door
: close to death : critically ill
: beyond endurance : excessively
bored to death
scared to death of spiders
I am sick to death of hearing your excuses.
Most high rollers prefer Atlantic City and Las Vegas, where they are comped to death and have more diversions.—William G. Flanagan et al.
William G. Flanagan et al.Synonyms
Examples of death in a Sentence
birth, life, and eventual death
The newspaper did not report the cause of death.
People around the world mourned his death.
The accident resulted in two deaths.
The number of deaths from cancer is rising.
He died a violent death.
There has been a death in the family.
The general met his death on the battlefield.
the death of a marriage
Death could be seen lurking in the corner of the painting.
Recent Examples on the Web
An autopsy suggested that strychnine was the probable cause of death.
—Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2025
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the inmate’s name and cause of death.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Feb. 2025
Hunt took over as the Chiefs’ chairman in 2005 ahead of his father’s death in 2006.
—Bette Canter, Sportico.com, 8 Feb. 2025
The medical examiner listed Vega’s cause of death as blunt impact injuries of the head and torso and her manner of death was listed as accident.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for death 
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Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2025
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the inmate’s name and cause of death.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Feb. 2025
Hunt took over as the Chiefs’ chairman in 2005 ahead of his father’s death in 2006.
—Bette Canter, Sportico.com, 8 Feb. 2025
The medical examiner listed Vega’s cause of death as blunt impact injuries of the head and torso and her manner of death was listed as accident.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for death
Dictionary Entries Near death
Cite this Entry
“Death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/death. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
death
noun1
: the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities (as the beating of the heart and working of the brain) : the end of life
2
: the cause of loss of life
drinking was the death of him
3
capitalized
: the destroyer of life represented usually as a skeleton with a scythe
4
: the state of being dead
deathlike
adjective
-ˌlīk
Medical Definition
death
noun1
: the irreversible cessation of all vital functions especially as indicated by permanent stoppage of the heart, respiration, and brain activity : the end of life see brain death
2
: the cause or occasion of loss of life
drinking was the death of him
3
: the state of being dead
in death as in life
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