collateral damage

SEE SYNONYMS FOR collateral damage ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the killing of civilians in a military attack.
any damage incidental to an activity.

Origin of collateral damage

First recorded in 1985–90

Words nearby collateral damage

collat., collate, collateral, collateral artery, collateral circulation, collateral damage, collateral fissure, collateral hyperemia, collateral inheritance, collateral ligament, collateral sulcus

British Dictionary definitions for collateral damage

collateral damage

noun

military unintentional damage to civil property and civilian casualties, caused by military operations