Casualty Meaning
Casualty Definition & Usage
A person who has been killed, injured, or otherwise harmed in an accident, disaster, or military conflict.
Examples
- "The earthquake resulted in hundreds of casualties, many of whom were trapped under the rubble."
- "The military reported a significant number of casualties after the attack on their base."
- "He was rushed to the hospital after the car crash, but unfortunately, he was later confirmed as a casualty."
- "Casualties from the bombing raid included civilians, with several buildings destroyed in the process."
- "The war left behind a tragic toll, with casualties on both sides continuing to rise."
A person or thing that is adversely affected by a situation or event, even if not physically harmed.
Examples
- "The company saw a significant casualty in its market share after the launch of the competing product."
- "While no one was physically hurt, the local economy suffered heavy casualties due to the prolonged strike."
- "The new policy resulted in several casualties in terms of employee morale."
- "Her career was one of the casualties of the economic recession, as the company downsized."
- "The outdated software proved to be a casualty of the new technology, as many systems failed to adapt."
Cultural Context
The term 'casualty' has been in use for centuries, originally referring to a person who had fallen victim to an accident or disaster. Over time, it has expanded in both medical and metaphorical contexts, now including not just physical harm, but any form of loss or negative consequence resulting from an event. The term is particularly prevalent in news reporting, especially related to natural disasters, wars, and accidents.
The Casualty of Choices
Story
The Casualty of Choices
Maria stood in the quiet of the abandoned office building, her mind racing as she reviewed the fallout from the company’s latest venture. A promising new product had been launched last quarter, but instead of boosting profits, it seemed to have done more harm than good. Reports of poor sales flooded in, and within weeks, the once-robust market share began to slip. She thought about how the financial losses had caused the company to lay off several employees, leaving many as casualties of an ill-conceived strategy. As she scrolled through the emails, she couldn't help but think about the countless other casualties in her life. There was the car accident two years ago that nearly took her brother's life. He'd recovered physically, but the emotional scars remained. There were the years of turmoil at home as her parents fought constantly, leaving her feeling like a casualty of their failed marriage. Even her dream of working as a writer had been sidelined, another casualty of her unyielding need for security. But now, standing in the echoing emptiness of the office, she realized something important. It wasn’t just the company’s failures that made people casualties. It was the choices they made. Each decision could either lead to recovery or leave someone, or something, in its wake. Maybe she could still rewrite her own story—perhaps the real casualty would be the version of herself that had allowed fear to dictate every step. She sighed, feeling both the weight of past losses and the hope of future victories. Maria knew that while there were casualties in life, they didn’t have to be permanent. Some losses could be turned into lessons. Some wounds could heal, and some situations, with the right choices, could still lead to redemption.
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