# fatal

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈfeɪ.təl/ · frequency rank #6,051

## Definitions
1. Proceeding from, or appointed by, fate or destiny.
2. Foreboding death or great disaster.
3. Causing death or destruction.
4. Causing a sudden end to the running of a program.

## Etymology
From Middle French fatal, from Latin fātālis (“fatal”).

## Easily confused with
- **FTA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-fta)
- **FTL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-ftl)
- **fate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-fate)
- **fats** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-fats)
- **foal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-foal)
- **feta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-feta)
- **final** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-final)
- **fatty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-fatty)
- **focal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-focal)
- **fetal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-fetal)
- **feral** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-feral)
- **fated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-fated)
- **Fates** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-fates)
- **fecal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-fecal)
- **fatwa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-fatwa)
- **futsal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-futsal)
- **foetal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-foetal)
- **fatally** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-fatally)
- **fractal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatal-vs-fractal)
- **fat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fat-vs-fatal)

## Common misspellings (7)
`aftal`, `faatl`, `fatall`, `fatla`, `fattal`, `ffatal`, `ftaal`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/fatal