collateral damage

American  

noun

1. the killing of civilians in a military attack.

2. any damage incidental to an activity.

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collateral damage British  

noun

1. military unintentional damage to civil property and civilian casualties, caused by military operations

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Etymology

Origin of collateral damage

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

Chemotherapy attempts to control the disease through widespread cell destruction, causing significant collateral damage to healthy tissues that lead to side effects.

From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2026

Multiyear conversions often reduce this collateral damage and remain one of the most reliable, low-error strategies for reducing taxes over time.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

Mr. Spitz, the author of well-received studies of Bob Dylan, the Beatles and Led Zeppelin, has a clear-eyed view of the band: the business, the spectacle, the collateral damage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Saini says his university did see a slight dip in international admissions after 2023, driven both by tighter visa rules and diplomatic tensions - but calls it "collateral damage" rather than a direct hit.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

She had not wanted their family to become collateral damage in a war that had no discernible fronts, no real shape, and no rules.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers