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

Should the adult-use cases dry up, the pediatric-use cases are the collateral damage, even if the drug showed potential for use in kids. — Lauren Chan, STAT, 11 June 2026

All of that increases the likelihood for collateral damage. — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 28 June 2026

Uncertainty across the region The news of peace came with a sense of bewilderment and uncertainty in a region that suffered collateral damage through months of war. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026

The vice president and other officials have downplayed evidence of collateral damage in their crackdown on fraudulent hospices. — Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 15 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for collateral damage

• ramage
• samaj