killed in action

adjective

The designation for a member of an organization (primarily military) who has died while on duty.

Similar
KIA
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Meanings

adjectivekilled in action (not comparable)

alternative killed-in-action

  1. not comparablegovernmentThe designation for a member of an organization (primarily military) who has died while on duty.

    There were only some four hundred United States marines who in the heroic and historic defense of Wake Island inflicted such great losses on the enemy. Some of those men were killed in action; and others are now prisoners of war.

    1942 January 6, Franklin Roosevelt, 1942 President's Annual Message to Congress

    Synonyms: KIA

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveThe designation for a member of an organization (primarily military) who has died while on duty.

Similar
KIA

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 殉职
  • 殉职 (xùnzhí)dead on duty
Finnish kaatunut taistelussa
  • kaatunut taistelussadead on duty
French mort au combat, mort en service
  • mort au combatdead on duty
  • mort en servicedead on duty
German gefallen
  • gefallendead on duty
Polish zabity w akcji
  • zabity w akcjidead on duty
Russian уби́т в бою́
  • уби́т в бою́ (ubít v bojú)dead on duty
Spanish muerto en combate
  • muerto en combatedead on duty
Ukrainian уби́тий у бою́
  • уби́тий у бою́ (ubýtyj u bojú)dead on duty
Cite this entry
APA

killed in action. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/killed%20in%20action

MLA

“killed in action.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/killed%20in%20action. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “killed in action,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/killed%20in%20action.

Source: killed in action on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.