lethal dose: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-to-mediumPrimarily technical/scientific, medical, forensic, toxicological; also used figuratively in general discourse.
Quick answer
What does “lethal dose” mean?
The amount of a substance (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The amount of a substance (e.g., a drug, poison, or radiation) required to cause death.
The smallest quantity of a substance that is fatal to a living organism; can be used metaphorically to refer to any dangerous amount or extreme intensity of something abstract.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Neutral to serious technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, likely due to a higher volume of technical medical and forensic media content.
Grammar
How to Use “lethal dose” in a Sentence
the lethal dose of [substance]a lethal dose for [organism]determine/calculate the lethal doseadminister/give a lethal doseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lethal dose” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The toxin was calculated to lethal-dose the lab mice.
American English
- The substance could lethally dose an elephant.
adverb
British English
- The poison acted lethally, matching a predicted dose.
American English
- It was lethally dosed, causing immediate effects.
adjective
British English
- The lethal-dose calculation is critical for safety data sheets.
American English
- They established the lethal-dose parameters.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically, e.g., 'A lethal dose of bureaucracy killed the project.'
Academic
Standard term in toxicology, pharmacology, medicine, and forensic science.
Everyday
Mostly heard in news about poisoning, drug overdoses, or used figuratively for strong effects.
Technical
Precise, quantifiable term often followed by specific values (LD50) in scientific literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lethal dose”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “lethal dose”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lethal dose”
- Confusing 'lethal' with 'fatal' (interchangeable here, but 'fatal' is broader).
- Misspelling as 'leathal'.
- Using 'lethal dosage' (less common; 'dose' is preferred for a measured quantity).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
LD50 stands for 'Lethal Dose, 50%' – the dose that kills 50% of a test population. It's a standard measure of toxicity.
Yes, it can be used figuratively for anything overwhelming or destructive, e.g., 'a lethal dose of criticism.'
In technical contexts, they are often interchangeable. 'Lethal dose' is slightly more clinical and common in scientific terminology.
It is determined through controlled animal testing (though increasingly replaced by in-vitro methods), where different doses are administered and mortality rates are recorded to calculate statistical values like LD50.
The amount of a substance (e.
Lethal dose is usually primarily technical/scientific, medical, forensic, toxicological; also used figuratively in general discourse. in register.
Lethal dose: in British English it is pronounced /ˌliː.θəl ˈdəʊs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌliː.θəl ˈdoʊs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'A lethal dose of reality' (metaphorical, intense/unpleasant truth)”
- “'A lethal dose of boredom' (metaphorical, extreme tedium)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'LEThal' – sounds like 'Lethe', the mythical river of forgetfulness/death in Greek mythology + 'DOSE' you take.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTENSITY IS A DOSE; DEATH IS A FINAL DESTINATION.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate definition of 'lethal dose'?