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# collateral damage

noun phrase (collateral damage, uncountable)

«collateral damage» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, military, official) ordinary people killed or hurt, and buildings destroyed by accident, during an attack on a military target.
2. (extended) any harm done by accident to people who were not the target.

### In the lessons

An army and government term that hides civilian deaths behind dry words; used in news, war reports and history; also used loosely for anyone hurt as a side effect. All regions; sounds cold.

### Examples

- The general called the dead villagers «collateral damage».
- The bombing caused heavy collateral damage.
- Critics say «collateral damage» hides the deaths of children.
- When my parents argued, the dog was collateral damage — nobody walked him.
- The new rule hit honest shops as collateral damage.
- History lesson: the war caused enormous collateral damage.

### Note

It means people killed or harmed, often civilians. It sounds cold and technical on purpose. Do not use it lightly about real deaths.