Definitions

collateral damage

NOUN

unintentional damage to non-military people or property during war

Synonyms

WEAK

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"It's not just the medical damage, but the collateral damage for relationships and families that is far greater than people have ever really thought to examine," she adds.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Chemotherapy attempts to control the disease through widespread cell destruction, causing significant collateral damage to healthy tissues that lead to side effects.

From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2026

Multiyear conversions often reduce this collateral damage and remain one of the most reliable, low-error strategies for reducing taxes over time.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

“The fear is that being collateral damage in the war extends into peace, and this is something we wouldn’t accept and need to work against.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

She had not wanted their family to become collateral damage in a war that had no discernible fronts, no real shape, and no rules.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers