non-fatal
Leaving one alive
Non-fatal describes injuries, accidents, illnesses, or other harmful events that do not result in death.
The term appears frequently in medical, legal, and statistical contexts where distinguishing outcomes by severity matters: The crash caused three non-fatal injuries.
A non-fatal heart attack or stroke is one the patient survives, though it may still cause lasting damage.
The hyphenated spelling is standard, though nonfatal also appears.
Remaining alive against odds
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- survivableCapable of being outlasted
- treatableCapable of being cured
- manageableAble to be controlled
mild · moderate · serious · critical · stable · prognosis · diagnosis · hospitalization
Capable of being outlasted
- treatableCapable of being cured
- manageableAble to be controlled
- hopefulFeeling positive expectation
- optimisticExpecting positive results
relieved · grateful · lucky · fortunate · close call · near miss · scare · warning
Lasting psychological wound
- woundCoiled, or an injury
- fractureSplit in hard material
- concussionBrain injury from impact
- lacerationTorn, ragged wound
contusion · sprain · strain · dislocation · burn · gash · cut · bruise
Restoration of health
- recuperationGradual return to health
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- convalescencePost-illness healing phase
- therapyCurative mental treatment
restoration · mending · improvement · remission · regeneration · resilience · treatment · cure
survival
Remaining alive against odds
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- survivableCapable of being outlasted
- treatableCapable of being cured
manageable · mild · moderate · serious · critical · stable · prognosis · diagnosis · hospitalization · discharge
survivable
Capable of being outlasted
- treatableCapable of being cured
- manageableAble to be controlled
- hopefulFeeling positive expectation
optimistic · relieved · grateful · lucky · fortunate · close call · near miss · scare · warning · wake-up call
trauma
Lasting psychological wound
- woundCoiled, or an injury
- fractureSplit in hard material
- concussionBrain injury from impact
laceration · contusion · sprain · strain · dislocation · burn · gash · cut · bruise · hematoma
healing
Restoration of health
- recuperationGradual return to health
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- convalescencePost-illness healing phase
therapy · restoration · mending · improvement · remission · regeneration · resilience · treatment · cure · physical therapy
non-fatalcatastrophic
Causing complete destruction
devastating · irreversible · critical · grave · unsurvivable
non-fatallife-threatening
Risking death
critical · catastrophic · grave · serious · severe