killed in action
Adjective
Meaning
killed in action
The designation for a member of an organization (primarily military) who has died while on duty.
Synonyms
Examples
It is a popular idea that a man is a hero just because he was killed in action. Rather, I think, a man is frequently a fool when he gets killed.
From the end of World War II until 1980, virtually no American soldiers were killed in action while serving in that region. Within a decade, a great shift occurred. Since 1990, virtually no American soldiers have been killed anywhere except the Greater Middle East.
Killed in action 28 April 1917.
Killed in action flying a P-51 on a second tour.