The structure combines "collateral" (secondary) with "damage" (harm), forming a euphemistic noun phrase. It is used to describe unintended harm to civilians or non military targets during military operations, framing such losses as an unavoidable byproduct. Outside of military contexts, it also refers more broadly to any unintended victims or negative consequences of an action, such as workers laid off during a corporate merger or reputational harm from a scandal. The term originated in U.S. military jargon during the Vietnam War and gained wider usage during the 1990s Gulf War.

Definition und Bedeutung von „collateral damage“ im Englischen

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