The number of deaths per unit of population (usually per 1,000 people) in a given place and time.
From 'death' plus 'rate' (from Latin rata, meaning 'reckoned' or 'calculated'). Emerged as a statistical term in the 18th-19th centuries as public health became a quantifiable science.
This boring-sounding number is actually a window into how well a society is doing—better healthcare, cleaner water, and less poverty all show up as lower death rates. It's statistics that literally measure human progress.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.