/ mɔːˈtæləti; NAmE mɔːrˈt-/ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ U ] the state of being human and not living for ever :
After her mother's death, she became acutely aware of her own mortality.
2.
[ U ] the number of deaths in a particular situation or period of time :
the infant mortality rate (= the number of babies that die at or just after birth)
Mortality from lung cancer is still increasing.
3.
[ C ] ( technical ) a death :
hospital mortalities (= deaths in hospital)
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via Old French from Latin mortalitas , from mortalis , from mors , mort- death.