friendly fire

American  

noun

1. Insurance. a fire deliberately set and remaining contained, as in a fireplace or boiler, from which any resulting loss cannot be claimed as an insurance liability (hostile fire ).

2. (in military combat) fire, as by artillery, by one's own forces, especially when causing damage near or casualties to one's own troops.

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friendly fire British  

noun

1. military firing by one's own side, esp when it harms one's own personnel

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Example Sentences

The US military has announced the loss of several aircraft during Iran operations, including a tanker that crashed in Iraq and three F-15s shot down by Kuwaiti friendly fire.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

They include six aboard a refuelling aircraft that crashed in Iraq, an incident US officials said was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.

From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026

The incident was not due to hostile or friendly fire according to Central Command.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

I've just read a press release from US Central Command saying that three US F-15E Strike Eagles have been shot down by Kuwaiti air defences in "an apparent friendly fire incident".

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

Other code talkers died in battle before the end of the war, but Harry Tsosie was the only one killed by friendly fire.

From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac