Collateral Damage (Noun)
Meaning
(euphemism) inadvertent casualties and destruction inflicted on civilians in the course of military operations.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural events.
Examples
- The military operation resulted in significant collateral damage to the nearby residential area, leaving many civilians injured or displaced.
- The use of drones in the conflict zone raised concerns about minimizing collateral damage and protecting non-combatants.
- Human rights groups criticized the government for downplaying the extent of collateral damage caused by its airstrikes on rebel-held territories.
- The general acknowledged that collateral damage was unavoidable in urban warfare but vowed to take steps to mitigate its effects on civilians.
- The international community condemned the bombing campaign for causing excessive collateral damage and demanded a more targeted approach to combat operations.