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

It’s hard to not think of all the collateral damage to people in the coach’s orbit.

From The Wall Street Journal

No less powerful in rolling back years are Krystal Joy Brown and Katie Rose Clarke as the talented wives who become collateral damage in Frank’s soulless quest for fame and riches.

From Los Angeles Times

Job displacement among creative professionals, journalists, and other workers represents a significant economic concern that extends beyond dismissing low-quality content as inevitable collateral damage from technological progress.

From Los Angeles Times

When the TK program passed through the legislature, Fuller said, this sort of collateral damage of the program on California’s child-care sector likely didn’t factor into their vote.

From Los Angeles Times

It warned that artists and other creators were becoming "collateral damage in the race by governments and corporations towards AI dominance".

From BBC