In wartime, you'll hear the word casualty used often for someone killed or injured. But casualty can also refer to deaths or injuries suffered in an accident or some other unfortunate event. ... Anyone who loses life or limb, either in the fighting or as a civilian, is called a casualty.

Why is a death called a casualty?

The noun “casualty” first appeared in the 15th century (originally in the form “casuality”) and, by analogy to “casual,” originally meant simply “an accident or chance occurrence.” But by the 16th century, “casualty” had narrowed to mean specifically “an unfortunate event” (thus the widespread use of “casualty” in the ...

Are a casualty and a death the same?

In its military sense, the term "casualty" includes all those who are killed in action or who die of wounds, as well as those who are wounded, listed as missing, or taken prisoner of war. Casualties are often wrongly confused with deaths, but in fact, as this definition suggests, casualty is a broader category.