collateraldamage
Collateral damage is a term used to describe unintended harm to people or objects that occurs as a side effect of a deliberate action, most commonly in armed conflict. It refers to civilian casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure and property that are not the primary target of an operation. The phrase is standardly written as two words, “collateral damage,” and appears in military, policy, and journalism contexts.
Origins and usage: The term entered military jargon in the 20th century and became widely used in
Legal and ethical context: International humanitarian law requires parties to distinguish between military objectives and civilians,
Examples and debates: Collateral damage commonly refers to civilian casualties, damage to homes, hospitals, schools, or
Other uses: Beyond conflict, the phrase is sometimes employed metaphorically to describe unintended harms resulting from