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

But they did not want their children to become collateral damage in the labor fight.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

It classifies any collateral damage as an attack.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

“Did you calculate the collateral damage before pulling the trigger?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

But the world’s population giant is experiencing collateral damage anyway, at an already challenging time.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

But the collateral damage of this era of narrowed learning is far harder to measure and will be recognized, if at all, only years into the future.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove