semilethal
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /ˌsɛmɪˈliːθəl/
KK: /ˌsɛmɪˈliːθəl/
adjective
Definition
Partially deadly or capable of causing death to some but not all organisms.
Example
The new pesticide is considered semilethal, affecting only a portion of the insect population.
Conversation
Did you hear about that new chemical they found?
Yeah, I heard it's semilethal to half the species it affects.
That's pretty concerning; we need to be careful with these substances.
Definitely! It's important to research before using anything new.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
partially
somewhat
marginally
Antonyms
deadly
harmless
innocuous
noun
Definition
A type of mutation that causes a significant but not total death rate in organisms, leading to more than half of them dying but not all.
Example
The semilethal mutation affected the population, resulting in a noticeable decline in numbers.
Conversation
Have you heard about that new study on semilethal mutations?
Yeah, it sounds pretty intense, doesn't it?
I can't believe they found that more than half of the subjects didn't survive.
Root Explanation
Semilethal → It is formed from "semi-" (meaning half) and "lethal" (from Latin "letalis", meaning deadly). The word "semilethal" describes something that is half deadly or not fully lethal.
Memory Tip
Think of 'semi-' meaning half and 'lethal' meaning deadly — so semilethal refers to something that is half deadly.
Visually Confused Words
No commonly confused words.