Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person killed or injured in a war or accident: The primary meaning refers to a person who is killed, wounded, or otherwise harmed as a result of a specific event.
   • A person or thing badly affected by an event or situation: Can refer to someone or something that suffers or is lost as a consequence of a particular circumstance.
   • (Military) A loss in numbers of personnel or equipment: Specifically in a military context, it refers to soldiers killed, wounded, captured, or missing, or to the loss of military equipment.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The first casualty of the train crash was taken to the hospital. (The first person injured in the train crash...)
  • The factory closure was a casualty of the economic recession. (The factory was something lost because of the recession.)
  • The regiment reported heavy casualties after the battle. (The regiment reported many soldiers killed, wounded, or missing.)

Advanced Usage

• "casualty of war": A person killed or injured in a war; can also refer to a non-combatant or civilian negatively affected by conflict.
  • Innocent civilians are often the forgotten casualties of war.
• "casualty department" (British English) / "emergency room" (American English): The hospital department that treats urgent cases.
  • He was rushed to the casualty department after the accident.

Variants and Related Words

• Casual (adj): Happening by chance; not regular or permanent; relaxed. (Note: This is a related word but has a different primary meaning).
• Casualty list (n): An official list of people killed or injured, especially in a battle or disaster.
  • The newspaper published the casualty list from the earthquake.

Synonyms

• Victim: A person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event.
• Fatality: A death resulting from an accident or disaster.
• Loss: (In military context) A person or item lost.

Related Phrases

• Collateral damage: (Idiomatic, often military/political) Unintended deaths, injuries, or damage to civilians and property during a military operation. This is a specific, often euphemistic, type of casualty.
  • The bombing resulted in significant collateral damage.

Notes on Meaning

• The word casualty inherently implies harm, loss, or negative consequence. It is not used for positive outcomes.
• In news and formal reporting, "casualties" often includes both the dead and the injured. The specific terms "fatalities" (deaths) and "injuries" are used for clarity.
• The second meaning (a thing badly affected) is often used in business, politics, or social commentary (e.g., "Small businesses were the main casualties of the new law.").

Noun

1. a decrease of military personnel or equipment
2. an accident that causes someone to die
3. someone injured or killed in an accident
4. someone injured or killed or captured or missing in a military engagement