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

In this conflict, four manned aircraft have been destroyed, three to friendly fire and one in an accident. —Bret Stephens, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026

At least 17 people have been killed by strikes inside Israel since the war began, including a civilian who was killed by friendly fire along the country’s border with Lebanon this weekend, according to the Israeli military. —Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026

The crash occurred in friendly Iraqi airspace during combat operations in support of the war in Iran and was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, military officials said. —David A. Lieb, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026

Some a week ago, three F-15 jet fighters were shot down, apparently, by a friendly fire in Kuwait. —CBS News, 15 Mar. 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