Collateral-damage
noun
1.
the killing of civilians in a military attack.
2.
any damage incidental to an activity.
noun
1.
(military) unintentional damage to civil property and civilian casualties, caused by military operations
noun
unintentional harm to persons or property as the result of military action
n.
by 1873 in legal cases; in modern use, generally a euphemism for “the coincidental killing of civilians,” U.S. coinage, c.1968, at first generally with reference to nuclear weapons.
Read Also:
- Collateral fissure
collateral fissure n. See collateral sulcus.
- Collateral hyperemia
collateral hyperemia n. Hyperemia resulting from increased blood flow through collateral channels when the flow through the main artery is arrested.
- Collateral inheritance
collateral inheritance n. The appearance of traits in collateral members of a family group, as when an uncle and a niece show the same trait inherited from a common ancestor.
- Collateralize
[kuh-lat-er-uh-lahyz] /kəˈlæt ər əˌlaɪz/ verb (used with object), collateralized, collateralizing. 1. to secure (a loan) with . 2. to pledge (property, securities, etc.) as collateral.
- Collateral ligament
collateral ligament n. A ligament located on either side of a hinge joint such as the knee or wrist that acts as a radius of movement for the joint.