hostile fire
Americannoun
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” it added.
From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026
The BBC understands the incident is not thought to have been caused by hostile fire.
From BBC • Dec. 9, 2025
They have fought intermittent skirmishes on the glacier, but more Indian and Pakistani troops have died from the grueling conditions than from hostile fire.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 17, 2022
It is intended to reduce the need for several single-role aircraft, such as AC-130 gunships or the A-10 Thunderbolt II tank buster, to loiter in a targeted area and perhaps be exposed to hostile fire.
From Washington Times • Aug. 4, 2022
Considering the intensity of the hostile fire, it is surprising that the aeroplanes were not smashed to fragments.
From Aeroplanes and Dirigibles of War by Talbot, Frederick Arthur Ambrose
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
