- the capacity to cause great harm, destruction, or death:Many pathogens are self-limited by their own lethality—the host dies before it has a chance to spread the pathogen.
- the likelihood of causing great harm, destruction, or death:Mutations can increase or decrease lethality, but most viruses mutate to less lethal forms.
- death:Prion diseases, such as so-called “mad cow,” are characterized by neurodegeneration and lethality.
