casualty

cas-u-al-ty · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A person killed or injured in a war, accident, or disaster.

  2. 2.

    A person or thing harmed or destroyed as an indirect result of something.

  3. 3.

    (British) The emergency department of a hospital.

Forms

plural: casualties

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    casualty of war — someone harmed by conflict
  • •
    collateral casualty — unintended harm to civilians
  • •
    casualty ward/department — hospital emergency room (British)

Related words

Antonyms: survivor
See also: casualties, fatality, injury, victim
Synonyms: fatality, loss, victim

Etymology

From Medieval Latin casualitas ("chance, accident"), from Latin casualis ("happening by chance"), from casus ("fall, chance"). Originally referred to any accidental occurrence.