collateral

Collateral is defined as something side by side, or something pledged to guarantee that a loan will be repaid.

(adjective)

An example of collateral is the death of one of two soldiers who had been fighting in positions next to each other; collateral damage.
An example of collateral is someone temporarily giving their phone to a friend in exchange for borrowing an expensive tool; collateral loan.

The definition of collateral is something given as a promise that a loan will be repaid.

(noun)

An example of collateral is a parent giving their house temporarily to a bail bondsman to get their child out of jail.

See collateral in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

side by side; parallel
parallel in time, rank, importance, etc.; corresponding
accompanying or existing in a subordinate, corroborative, or indirect relationship
descended from the same ancestors but in a different line: a cousin is a collateral relative
1. designating or of security given as a pledge for the fulfillment of an obligation
2. secured or guaranteed by property, as stocks or bonds: a collateral loan

Origin: ME < ML collateralis < L com-, together + lateralis, lateral

noun

a collateral relative
☆ anything, such as stocks or bonds, that secures or guarantees the discharge of an obligation

Related Forms:

See collateral in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Situated or running side by side; parallel.
Coinciding in tendency or effect; concomitant or accompanying.
Serving to support or corroborate: collateral evidence.
Of a secondary nature; subordinate: collateral target damage from a bombing run.
Of, relating to, or guaranteed by a security pledged against the performance of an obligation: a collateral loan.
Having an ancestor in common but descended from a different line.

noun