Lesson

War & Violence

Conflict and military vocabulary

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

War & Violence — Introduction

This lesson focuses on key vocabulary related to war and violence. You will learn common terms used in news reports, policy documents, and business contexts when discussing conflicts, humanitarian impact, and security.

  • Understand precise meanings (e.g., casualty vs. civilian).
  • Learn common collocations and register (formal vs. neutral).
  • Practice recognizing terms in professional contexts (reports, briefings).

Table

Key Vocabulary: War & Violence

Term Type Example
casualty noun The report listed dozens of casualties after the bombardment.
civilian noun Humanitarian aid must reach civilians in affected areas.
combatant noun International law distinguishes combatants from non-combatants.
ceasefire noun Negotiators agreed a temporary ceasefire to allow evacuations.
atrocity noun The committee condemned the atrocities reported in the region.
hostilities noun Hostilities resumed despite the peace talks.
insurgency noun The government declared a state of emergency to confront the insurgency.
collateral damage noun (phrase) The operation caused significant collateral damage to civilian infrastructure.

Tip

How to use these words appropriately

Choose terms based on precision and register:

  • Use 'casualty' for people killed or injured; it does not always mean death.
  • 'Civilian' refers to non-combatants — a neutral, legal term.
  • 'Atrocity' is a strong word for severe crimes; use it in formal reports.
  • Use 'ceasefire' or 'armistice' for temporary or formal pauses in fighting.

When writing reports, prefer precise terms to avoid ambiguity.

Example

Examples in context

The humanitarian team documented several casualties after the strike.

Aid agencies are negotiating safe corridors to evacuate civilians.

The government announced a temporary ceasefire to allow deliveries of food and medicine.

Reports described atrocities that took place near the border town.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Watch out for these universal errors when using conflict vocabulary:

  • Confusing similar terms: 'casualty' (injured/killed) vs. 'fatality' (death).
  • Wrong register: using very strong words (e.g., 'atrocity') in informal contexts.
  • Misusing countable/uncountable forms (e.g., 'violence' is uncountable; 'casualties' is usually plural).
  • Incorrect collocations: some verbs pair with specific nouns ('seize territory', not 'do territory').

If unsure, check the collocation and whether the term is neutral or emotive.

Quiz

Which word best completes the sentence: "The conflict resulted in many _____, both military and civilian."

Hint: Think of a term that refers to deaths and injuries.

Quiz

Complete: The ceasefire helped to reduce _____ in the region.

Hint: Think of a formal noun for active fighting or military action

Quiz

Choose the correct collocation: "to _____ territory"

Hint: Which verb is commonly used for taking control of land in a military context?

Key Points

Vocabulary

casualty

noun CEFR B2 //ˈkæʒuəlti//

A person injured, killed, or otherwise harmed during an incident or conflict.

The hospital treated dozens of casualties from the explosion.

Vocabulary

civilian

noun CEFR B2 //sɪˈvɪliən//

A person who is not a member of the armed forces or police.

Aid convoys aimed to protect civilians from hunger and disease.

Vocabulary

combatant

noun CEFR C1 //kəmˈbætənt//

A person who is actively engaged in fighting during an armed conflict.

The treaty protected non-combatants but allowed measures against combatants.

Vocabulary

ceasefire

noun CEFR B2 //ˈsiːsˌfaɪər//

An agreement to stop fighting temporarily or permanently.

The ceasefire allowed medical teams to enter the besieged city.

Vocabulary

atrocity

noun CEFR C1 //əˈtrɒsəti//

An extremely cruel or violent act, often against civilians, that shocks public opinion.

Investigators documented alleged atrocities committed during the campaign.

Vocabulary

hostilities

noun CEFR C1 //hɒˈstɪlɪtiz//

Acts of warfare or fighting between parties in a conflict.

International observers reported that hostilities had increased along the border.

Expression

collateral damage

noun (phrase) CEFR C1 //kəˈlætərəl ˈdæmɪdʒ//

Unintended damage or civilian casualties caused by military operations.

Officials downplayed the collateral damage after the airstrike.