casualties

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'casualties' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the people who were killed, injured, captured, or missing in a military conflict, accident, or other disaster. For example, "The war left over 10,000 casualties on both sides."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The high number of casualties raised speculation that the ship had been overcrowded and possibly did not have enough safety equipment for everyone on board.

The Guardian

But we have consistently made clear our grave concerns about the heavy toll of civilian casualties and have called on Israel to exercise restraint, and to find ways to bring this fighting to an end.

The Guardian

On Monday, the prime minister's spokesman refused to say if Israel was behaving disproportionately or doing enough to prevent civilian casualties.

The Guardian

There's no way of knowing if your patients are all going to stay stable, or if there is an imminent major disaster with all casualties needing immediate medical assessment and treatment – and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The Guardian

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 26 , 2012Car bomb explodes in southern Damascus; initial reports of large numbers of casualties: activists Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 5.26pm BST17:26 Claims of ceasefire breaches on both sites Both the Syrian army and the activists have accused each other side of breaching the ceasefire.

The Guardian

Earlier, Hatay's governor said a total of six Syrian shells had hit the Turkish side of the border on Monday, without causing any casualties.

The Guardian

The decision to pave the way for the possible supply of arms to Iraq means that the UK may once again bear responsibility – if only indirectly – for casualties in Iraq.

The Guardian

The world went to war a century ago and, like all aspects of society, sport suffered its casualties.

The Guardian - Sport

It should disclose its investigative reports into past strikes – at least into those strikes that are reported to have resulted in bystander casualties.

The Guardian - Opinion

It should disclose records relating to bystander casualties, so that the public can judge for itself whether the government's targeting decision are as discriminating as the government says they are.

The Guardian - Opinion

He also appealed to the United Sates to avoid civilian casualties in its war with the Taliban.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting on events with "casualties", always strive for accuracy in numbers and descriptions to avoid spreading misinformation or causing further distress to affected communities.

Common error

Avoid using vague language when discussing "casualties". Provide specific details about the types of "casualties" (fatalities, injuries, missing persons) and any available demographic information to provide a clearer understanding of the event's impact.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "casualties" is as a plural noun, representing individuals who have been killed, injured, or otherwise harmed in an event, particularly in conflicts or disasters. According to Ludwig, the term is correct and frequently used in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "casualties" functions as a plural noun referring to individuals harmed or killed in an event. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, highlighting its frequent appearance in neutral contexts such as news and media. While grammatically straightforward, effective use of "casualties" involves striving for numerical accuracy to prevent the spread of misinformation. Related phrases such as "fatalities" or "injuries" can offer more specificity depending on the context. It's most common error stems from a lack of specificity when describing the types of losses sustained.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fatalities

Focuses specifically on deaths resulting from an event.

injuries

Highlights the physical harm suffered by individuals.

losses

Broadly refers to any form of detriment, including deaths, injuries, and material damage.

victims

Emphasizes the individuals who suffered harm or loss.

affected individuals

Highlights the individuals who have been impacted by an event or situation.

those wounded

Specifically refers to people who have sustained injuries.

the deceased

Refers to those who have died.

those harmed

Refers to people who have suffered negative consequences.

number of dead and injured

A more descriptive way to express casualties by separately specifying deaths and injuries.

human cost

Emphasizes the impact on people's lives rather than just numerical counts.

FAQs

How can I use "casualties" in a sentence?

"Casualties" typically refers to the number of people killed or injured in an event. For example, "The war resulted in heavy "casualties" on both sides".

What is a more formal synonym for "casualties"?

A more formal synonym for "casualties" could be "fatalities" and "injuries", depending on the context. Using specific terms provides more precision in formal reporting.

What is the difference between "casualties" and "victims"?

"Casualties" is a broader term referring to anyone harmed or killed in an event, while "victim" specifically refers to someone who has suffered harm or loss as a result of a crime, accident, or other event. Therefore, all "casualties" are "victims", but not all "victims" are "casualties".

What are some contexts where I might use the word "casualties"?

The word "casualties" is often used in contexts related to war, natural disasters, accidents, or other events that result in harm or death. You might see it in news reports, historical accounts, or medical reports describing the "casualties" of a particular event.