Collateral meaning
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.
An example of collateral is a parent giving their house temporarily to a bail bondsman to get their child out of jail.
Collateral target damage from a bombing run.
A collateral loan.
Collateral evidence.
A cousin is a collateral relative.
Although not a direct cause, the border skirmish was certainly a collateral incitement for the war.
Besides the arteries blood streams through numerous veins we call collaterals.
Origin of collateral
- Middle English from Medieval Latin collaterālis Latin com- com- Latin latus later- side
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Wiktionary