Casualty

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈkaÊ’(ÊŠ)É™lti/

Origin

From Latin casuālitas (compare casuality).

Full definition of casualty

Noun

1. (obsolete) Chance nature; randomness.
• 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, NYRB 2001, vol. 1 p. 327-8:The non-necessary causes follow; of which, saith Fuchsius, no art can be made, by reason of their uncertainty, casualty, and multitude ....
2. Something that happens by chance, especially an unfortunate event; an accident, a disaster.
3. A person suffering from injuries or who has been killed due to an accident or through an act of violence.
4. (British) The accident and emergency department of a hospital

Derived terms

• casualty department
• casualty ward

Related terms

• casual