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Definition of casualty

casualty

/ˈkæʒ.əl.ti/
cas · u · al · ty
Plural:casualties
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casualty Lexical Profile

casualty Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

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

Example

"Emergency responders worked throughout the night to treat every casualty of the train derailment."

2

A person or thing badly affected, damaged, or destroyed by an event or situation.

Example

"The historic neighborhood theater became the latest casualty of rising commercial rents."

3

British The hospital department responsible for providing immediate treatment for acute illnesses and sudden injuries; an emergency room.

Example

"After twisting his ankle on the icy pavement, he was taken straight to casualty for an X-ray."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for casualty

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'casualty' (a victim of an accident or disaster) with 'causality' (the relationship between cause and effect). Additionally, in formal and military contexts, a casualty includes both those injured and those killed, not strictly fatalities.

• Nearby Words

casual
casually
casualness
casualty
casualwear
cat
cat gecko

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the 15th century from Medieval Latin casualitas ('chance or accident'), from Latin casualis ('by chance'), ultimately derived from casus ('a fall, chance, or misfortune').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Casualty. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/casualty
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