casualty
/ˈkaʒʊ.əlti/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: casualties
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Something that happens by chance, especially an unfortunate event; an accident, a disaster.
Noun
Examples
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.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A person suffering from injuries or who has been killed due to an accident or through an act of violence.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “casualty” mean?
Something that happens by chance, especially an unfortunate event; an accident, a disaster.
Is “casualty” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.