Question 1 · Quick check
casualty
CEFRB2
/ˈkaʒʊ.əlti/
noun
Türkçe translations
Translating…
In plain English
- 01
noun
A person killed or injured in an accident or war.
- 02
noun
Extra detailA person suffering from injuries or who has been killed due to an accident or through an act of violence.
Examples
In war, truth is the first casualty.
The first casualty of every war is the truth.
At a glance
Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale
- Senses
- 5
- Parts of speech
- 1
- Citations
- 2
- Synonyms
- 5
Also pronounced
- /ˈkæʒəlti/
- /ˈkæʒu.əlti/
Deep Dive
noun
Extra meaningsSpecifically, a person who has been killed (not only injured) due to an accident or through an act of violence; a fatality.
Something that happens by chance, especially an unfortunate event; an accident, a disaster.
A person in military service who becomes unavailable for duty, for any reason (notably death, injury, illness, capture, or desertion).
More examples
In contextThe non-necessary [causes] follow; of which, saith Fuchsius, no art can be made, by reason of their uncertainty, casualty, and multitude […]
We've got one casualty.
1756, Samuel Johnson, “The Life of Sir Thomas Browne” in Thomas Browne, Christian Morals, 2nd edition, London: J. Payne, p. xx, The course of his education was like that of others, such as put him little in the way of extraordinary casualties.
Related
Quick test
Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.
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Nearby
Origin
noun
From casual, from Middle French casuel, from Medieval Latin casualitas and Late Latin cāsuālis (“happening by chance”), from Latin cāsus (“event”) (English case), from cadere (“to fall”). Originally meaning “a chance event” (compare casual, as in “casual encounter”), it developed a negative meaning as “an unfortunate event”, especially the loss of a person.