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.
The last body count was at least 114 children. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026 And there is now an American body count. CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026 The Satanic Slasher's got a heck of a body count already when he’s pulled over by cops for a routine traffic stop, and Kansas highway patrol officer Jane Archer (Georgina Campbell) watches her husband get gunned down in cold blood in front of her. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026 As the body count rises, Inspector Jack Phatudi is drawn into a dangerous manhunt to unmask the vigilante. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026 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 16 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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