friendly fire

noun

: the firing of weapons from one's own forces or those of an ally especially when resulting in the accidental death or injury of one's own personnel

Near the river bordering our camp I find the tents of the four soldiers who were supposedly hit by friendly fire.

—Janine Di Giovanni

After all, accidental attacks, though tragic, are common in war. In 1967 alone, "friendly fire" killed 5,373 Americans fighting in Vietnam.

—Michael Oren

Examples of friendly fire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bianchi stared down the enemy in World War II, survived the Bataan Death March and endured years as a prisoner of war before dying in friendly fire. —Ubah Ali, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026

His death was later determined to have resulted from friendly fire during an ambush on his platoon. —Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026

Give your backyard patio a cozy feel with a budget-friendly fire pit. —Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 21 Apr. 2026

Rivera was the first CPD officer to die in a friendly fire incident in nearly four decades. —Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for friendly fire

• acquire
• attire
• bonfire
• campfire
• ceasefire
• conspire
• desire
• enquire
• entire
• greenbrier
• gunfire
• homebuyer