collateral damage

noun

: injury inflicted on something other than an intended target
specifically : civilian casualties of a military operation

Examples of collateral damage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Also, the lack of care, seeming care, for collateral damage, if things go wrong, has been a big contention for them. Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024 But along with the enthusiasm has come doubt, especially among residents concerned about collateral damage caused by this immense scientific endeavor. Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2024 Imbued with dread, Waves is a sobering drama that lingers long after its conclusion, tackling themes of toxic masculinity, the relationships between parents and children, and the collateral damage of one fateful night. EW.com, 26 Sep. 2024 Was there a frightful amount of unseen collateral damage from Agatha’s airborne clash with the Scarlet Witch in the WandaVision finale? Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 21 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for collateral damage 

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of collateral damage was in 1947

Dictionary Entries Near collateral damage

Cite this Entry

“Collateral damage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collateral%20damage. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on collateral damage

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