body count

noun

1
: a count of the bodies of killed enemy soldiers
2
: the number of persons involved in a particular activity

Examples of body count in a Sentence

The rising body count fueled opposition to the war.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If the first two films strained credibility, Death Wish 3 throws it out the window en route to stacking up a body count akin to a minor military conflict. Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025 The initial estimate was 3,807 — still 23% higher than the body count in 2013. Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 13 Nov. 2025 In the past, Ware said, domestic terrorists have tended to aim for higher body counts. NPR, 25 Oct. 2025 When large and small crowds in large and small towns gather respectfully, even exuberantly, to register their response to the country’s direction, measuring newsworthiness by body count or damage tallies misses the critical story. Nancy Gibbs, Time, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for body count

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of body count was in 1962

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Cite this Entry

“Body count.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/body%20count. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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