free-fire zone

American  

[free-fahyuhr] / ˈfriˈfaɪər /

noun

1. an area in which military units have prior clearance to fire at will on any person or object encountered.

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Etymology

Origin of free-fire zone

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

The main highway from Lysychansk to Bakhmut, a city in Donetsk province about 30 miles to the southwest, was already a Russian free-fire zone a month ago, forcing residents and resupply convoys to take a back-country path to the area.

From Los Angeles Times

In 1969, Tom Lacombe was an infantryman in Vietnam, working in a free-fire zone of the Central Highlands, south of An Khe.

From Washington Post

Along with other large social media services, Twitter has evolved over the years from a free-speech, free-fire zone into something more regulated in response to commercial concerns, government pressure and user complaints.

From Los Angeles Times

The debate stage became a free-fire zone instead, the candidates seizing the moment to call each other out.

From Washington Post

That era was a capitalistic free-fire zone.

From Salon