Collateral damage
Unintended harm or death to civilians, or damage to civilian property, that occurs as a result of military operations directed against legitimate military targets.
This term implies that the harm was not the primary objective but an unavoidable side effect of a lawful military action. It is distinct from intentionally targeting civilians, which would be a war crime.
Word relationships
- incidental harm: More general, less specific to military context.
- unintended consequences: Broader, can apply to any situation, not just military.
- direct targeting of civilians: Refers to intentional harm to civilians, which is a war crime.
Word family
- collateral (adjective): secondary; accompanying.
Collocations
- minimize collateral damage
- unavoidable collateral damage
- significant collateral damage
- risk of collateral damage
Example sentences
- "Despite precision targeting, some `Collateral damage` to nearby civilian structures was unavoidable." Military operations often carry the risk of unintended harm.
- "The investigation sought to determine whether the `Collateral damage` was excessive, thereby violating the principle of proportionality." International law aims to minimize such harm.
- "The environmental `Collateral damage` from the oil spill affected marine life for decades." The term is sometimes used to describe non-human costs as well.
Memory hook
Think of 'COLLATERAL' as 'CO-LATERAL' — damage that happens 'alongside' the main target. Side damage
When not to use
Avoid using this term for general accidents or unintended consequences in everyday life, as it has a specific, sensitive military context. It can also be perceived as a euphemism that downplays human suffering.
Fun facts
- The term 'collateral damage' is often criticized for being a euphemism that sanitizes the tragic reality of civilian suffering in war.
- Minimizing collateral damage is a key objective in modern military planning and a measure of adherence to the principle of proportionality.
Related words
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