case fatality rate

[ keys fey-tal-i-tee reyt, fuh- ]

noun

1. the proportion of people who die from a disease contracted during a specific period of time, calculated by dividing the total number of deaths by the total number of cases and typically expressed as a percentage: : CFR

   It is often difficult to pinpoint the case fatality rate, because many cases of infection can go undetected and thus unreported.

Word History and Origins

Origin of case fatality rate¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

All of that has helped bring case fatality rates down sharply since April.

From Fortune