friendly fire

noun

: the firing of weapons from one's own forces or those of an ally especially when resulting in the accidental death or injury of one's own personnel

Near the river bordering our camp I find the tents of the four soldiers who were supposedly hit by friendly fire.

—Janine Di Giovanni

After all, accidental attacks, though tragic, are common in war. In 1967 alone, "friendly fire" killed 5,373 Americans fighting in Vietnam.

—Michael Oren

Examples of friendly fire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rivera was the first CPD officer to die in a friendly fire incident in nearly 40 years. —Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025

He was sent to Afghanistan in 2004, where he was struck by friendly fire and killed on April 22, 2004. —Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 22 July 2025

While it was initially reported that Tillman was killed by enemy fire, the Pentagon told his family that he was killed by friendly fire. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2025

Pat Tillman, who was born in the San Jose area, was killed by friendly fire in 2004 while serving in Afghanistan. —N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 21 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for friendly fire

• acquire
• attire
• bonfire
• campfire
• ceasefire
• conspire
• desire
• enquire
• entire
• greenbrier
• gunfire
• homebuyer