mortal
mortal — adjective
- mortalpositive
- more mortalcomparative
- most mortalsuperlative
1. describes any living creature, especially a person, that has a limited lifespan
describes any living creature, especially a person, that has a limited lifespan and will eventually die — the opposite of immortal.
Tía Rosa accepted she was mortal as she sorted old photos on her ninety-third birthday.
predicative: be + mortal
Grandma Mei-Lin often said that accepting we are mortal helps us cherish each day with family.
predicative: we are mortal
The ancient Greeks believed that even heroes like Achilles were mortal, unlike the gods on Olympus.
When Chidi's hamster died, his mother told him all creatures are mortal and death is a natural part of life.
attributive: mortal creatures
- mortal life
- mortal flesh
- mortal remains
- mortal coil
- immortal
not subject to death; used of gods, mythological beings, or concepts that last forever
Grammar Patterns
mortal + noun
be + mortal
Common Mistakes
2. relating to a wound, injury, illness, or attack that directly causes death.
relating to a wound, injury, illness, or attack that directly causes death.
The knight received a mortal wound during the battle and died before the sun set that evening.
collocation: mortal wound
Dr. Okafor told Amara's family that the tumour had dealt a mortal blow to her liver function.
collocation: mortal blow
A snakebite can deliver a mortal dose of venom if the victim does not receive antivenom quickly.
When Dr. Fatima Chen saw internal bleeding on the CT scan, she knew the patient had a mortal injury.
collocation: mortal injury
- mortal wound
- mortal blow
- mortal injury
- mortal combat
- non-fatal
does not cause death; used especially in medical and statistical contexts
Grammar Patterns
mortal + noun (wound, blow, injury, danger)
Usage Note
Frequently used with nouns that describe injuries or attacks: 'mortal wound', 'mortal blow', 'mortal injury'. In modern medical prose, 'fatal' or 'lethal' is more common than 'mortal'.
Common Mistakes
3. so intense that it feels overwhelming — used only with nouns that describe negat
so intense that it feels overwhelming — used only with nouns that describe negative emotions such as fear, terror, or dread.
The hiker felt mortal terror when he heard the bear growling just a few metres away in the trees.
collocation: mortal terror
Diego has a mortal fear of flying, so he always takes the train when he travels for work.
collocation: mortal fear of + gerund/noun
The villagers lived in mortal dread of the warlord who controlled their valley for twenty years.
As the walls of the tunnel collapsed around them, the trapped workers experienced a moment of mortal horror.
- mortal fear
- mortal terror
- mortal dread
- mortal horror
- extreme
broader; can describe a wide range of emotions, situations, and measurements
- intense
focuses on the sheer strength of the feeling
- overwhelming
suggests the feeling is too powerful to control or resist
- mild
weak in strength; the opposite of extreme or intense
Grammar Patterns
mortal + noun (fear, terror, dread, anxiety)
Usage Note
Only pairs with nouns describing negative emotions — fear, terror, dread, horror, anxiety. You cannot say 'mortal happiness' or 'mortal excitement'.
Common Mistakes
4. describes an enemy, opponent, or danger that is so deeply hostile and relentless
describes an enemy, opponent, or danger that is so deeply hostile and relentless that no compromise or reconciliation is possible.
The Montagues and Capulets were mortal enemies in Shakespeare's tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.
collocation: mortal enemy
Crossing the frozen river in early spring put the expedition team in mortal danger.
collocation: mortal danger
After the rival gang killed his younger brother, Mateo swore the Salazar family would be his mortal enemies for life.
The spreading wildfire posed a mortal threat to every home in the valley below the ridge.
- mortal enemy
- mortal danger
- mortal threat
- mortal foe
- deadly
overlaps with sense 2; implies the threat could actually kill
- implacable
cannot be appeased or reconciled; stronger but much more formal
- sworn
used almost exclusively with 'enemy'; suggests a formal or solemn declaration of hostility
- friendly
showing kindness and goodwill; the opposite of hostile
Grammar Patterns
mortal + noun (enemy, foe, danger, threat)
Usage Note
Nearly always used with a small set of nouns: 'enemy', 'foe', 'danger', 'threat'. 'Mortal enemy' is the most frequent and implies a lasting, deeply personal hostility that cannot be resolved.
Common Mistakes
mortal — adverb
1. in a way that causes death — used with past participles such as 'wounded' or 'in
in a way that causes death — used with past participles such as 'wounded' or 'injured'; also, to an extreme degree — used with adjectives of negative feeling such as 'afraid' or 'offended'.
The soldier was mortally wounded during the night ambush and died before his comrades could reach him.
mortally + past participle (wounded)
Ananya was mortally afraid of public speaking, but she delivered her presentation to the entire board anyway.
mortally + adjective (afraid)
The general was mortally offended when his own government accused him of betraying the nation.
Four passengers were mortally injured when the train derailed near the mountain pass outside Kyoto.
- mortally wounded
- mortally afraid
- mortally offended
- mortally injured
Grammar Patterns
mortally + past participle
mortally + adjective
Usage Note
Commonly modifies past-participle verbs ('mortally wounded', 'mortally injured') and adjectives of negative feeling ('mortally afraid', 'mortally offended'). Rare with positive adjectives.
Common Mistakes
mortal — noun
- mortalsingular
- mortalsplural
1. a regular human being — especially when contrasted with a god, a supernatural be
a regular human being — especially when contrasted with a god, a supernatural being, or someone of extraordinary status or power.
In Greek mythology, the gods often interfered in the lives of mortals purely for their own amusement.
plural: mortals contrasted with gods
Even a mere mortal like Soo-jin managed to beat the chess champion after practising for six months.
collocation: mere mortal
The billionaire's private island seemed like a paradise that no ordinary mortal could ever visit.
In the film, the superhero struggles to build genuine friendships with the mortals she is sworn to protect.
- mere mortal
- ordinary mortal
- gods and mortals
- human being
more neutral; does not imply a contrast with gods or superhuman beings
- person
everyday word; lacks the philosophical or mythological contrast
Grammar Patterns
a/the + mortal
adjective + mortal
mere mortal
Usage Note
Often used with 'mere' for emphasis ('a mere mortal'). Also appears in contrasts: 'gods and mortals'. When no contrast is intended, 'human' or 'person' is more neutral.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- mortallyadverbC1
- mortalitynounB2
- immortaladjectiveB2
- immortalitynounC1
- morticiannounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
While all four words refer to people, mortal carries a distinct contrast with gods, immortals, or superhuman beings that the others lack. Human being is the most neutral term for our species and fits both scientific and everyday contexts ('human rights are universal'; 'the human brain is complex'). Person is a legal and social term that emphasises individual identity and dignity ('every person has the right to a fair trial'). Individual stresses uniqueness or separateness from a group ('each individual processes grief differently'). Mortal, by contrast, is used when the speaker wants to highlight human weakness, finitude, or ordinariness — often in contrast with something greater. For example: 'The goddess looked down at the mortals struggling in the storm' — here 'humans' would be less evocative. In 'Even a mere mortal can learn to paint,' the word emphasises ordinariness rather than species membership.
Common collocations
Phrases
- all mortals
- mere mortal
Etymology
From Latin 'mortalis' (subject to death), which comes from 'mors' (death). The word reached English through Old French during the Middle Ages. The sense 'causing death' appeared in the 14th century, and the extended meaning 'extreme, intense' developed in the 16th century.