/kazh"ooh euhl tee/ , n. , pl. casualties .
1. Mil.
a. a member of the armed forces lost to service through death, wounds, sickness, capture, or because his or her whereabouts or condition cannot be determined.
b. casualties , loss in numerical strength through any cause, as death, wounds, sickness, capture, or desertion.
2. one who is injured or killed in an accident: There were no casualties in the traffic accident.
3. any person, group, thing, etc., that is harmed or destroyed as a result of some act or event: Their house was a casualty of the fire.
4. a serious accident, esp. one involving bodily injury or death.
[ 1375-1425; CASUAL + -TY 2 ; r. late ME casuelte, equiv. to casuel (see CASUAL) + -te -TY 2 ]