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

This friendly fire incident, not the first, occurred as the Ka-52, equipped with anti-drone airburst ammunition, was targeting slow-moving Ukrainian drones. — David Hambling, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

An 18-year-old gunman responsible for a Brooklyn shooting that ended with a cop getting hit by friendly fire from a fellow officer was ordered held on $50,000 during his arraignment — and has already posted his bail, officials said Wednesday. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 8 July 2026

Over a dozen men were killed and many more injured in the friendly fire incident. — Salena Zito, Washington Post, 1 July 2026

He was hit and killed by friendly fire in April of that year. — Jason Green, Mercury News, 16 June 2026

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