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.
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 As the body count rises, local Inspector Jack Phatudi is drawn into a dangerous manhunt to unmask the vigilante. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025 Ben’s sacrifice The body count is far higher in the film, and poor Ben doesn’t escape with his life. Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025 Murders ensue, romances blossom, and the body count gets higher as the night goes on. Samantha Allen, Them., 7 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 23 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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