body count

noun

1. the number of soldiers killed in a specific period or in a particular military action.

   The daily body count increased as the war went on.

Word History and Origins

Origin of body count¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

A morgue visit elicits disinterest and little more than a body count, with Sara wondering if “ten makes a massacre. I only counted six.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That the United States once again is reeling from familiar but alarming headlines and body counts should not be a surprise by now.

Read more on Salon

But that’s tough to do when the body count rises as quickly as it does in “Another Simple Favor.”

Read more on Salon

Besides, one gets the sense that if our suicidal patriarch were to follow through on his exit strategy, he would keep the body count within the family.

Read more on Salon

Given its overabundance of empty shock humor, the movie seems afraid to be about much of anything except its toy monkey’s prankish body count.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• census