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

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

Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 by friendly fire. —Kassia Bonesteel, CBS News, 15 June 2026

And Mina points to federal and state investigations that cleared officers accused of accidentally killing some victims from friendly fire. —Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026

His independent views on Israel have drawn not-so-friendly fire from the activist left. —Doug Friednash, Denver Post, 3 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