friendly fire
/ˌfɹɛn(d).li ˈfaɪ.ɚ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.55 in modern English
22
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Weapons fire coming unintentionally from allied or friendly forces rather than from enemy forces, usually that which causes damage or casualties.
Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "It is clear that the firing of very heavy guns, or the enemy's fire in return, would very seriously interfere with an abbatis, or anything of that kind, and it will be only something of the lightest character, or something that is placed at a considerable distance from the friendly fire, the fire of the gun itself, that would remain."
- "The slaughter of one's own troops by being fired into by their friends in rear. We are very much concerned over the question of avoiding loss from the enemy's bullets while passing through the danger zone, but what have we done to avoid our bravest fellows, the survival of the fittest, those who have gotten to the front and have held on to hard-won positions—what have we done to avoid their being shot to pieces by friendly fire? Absolutely nothing that we have ever heard of—and yet this is one of the most serious problems that confronts the leader of troops. Courage before the enemy will quail before a fire from the rear."
- "Labour is set to publish its own ideas 'shortly', which could mean anything from days to weeks. Meanwhile, the Conservatives' proposals have faced some 'friendly fire' from their own side."
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌfɹɛn(d).li ˈfaɪ.ɚ/
- British English: /ˌfɹɛn(d).li ˈfaɪ.ə/