Words / B2

KAZH-oo-uh-ltee/ˈkæʒuəlti/

A casualty is a person injured or killed in an accident or war: civilian casualties, the casualty list. Victim is everyday and broader; fatality is death only. In British English, Casualty or A&E is also the hospital emergency department (informally “Casualty”). In speech, people hurt or killed is the news sense. Do not use casualty for a dented car alone, and do not assume Casualty the ward means a death.

Meaning

A person injured or killed in an accident or war; also, in British English, a hospital emergency department.

Examples

• “There were several casualties in the crash.”
• “First reports put the casualties at twelve injured, with no deaths confirmed.”
• “He spent four hours in Casualty with a suspected break, then went home in a cast.”

Good to know

Injured or killed (accident/war). Everyday: victim (broader). Death only: fatality. BrE: Casualty / A&E = emergency department (not automatically a death).

Near in meaning

victim

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