Word
KIA
Phoneticskia
/ˈkiɝ/
Definitions
01killed in action
adj. Stands for Killed In Action. You use this to describe a soldier who has died during a battle.
adj. Abbreviation for Killed In Action. Used as a postpositive adjective or a status indicator for military personnel who die during combat.
“The family received a letter stating that the young soldier was KIA during the final days of the war.”
“The official report listed several soldiers as KIA following the ambush on the supply convoy near the border.”
Formal · Technical
Usage
Usually written in capital letters and often follows the verb 'to be' or a noun.
Teaching tip
This is a sensitive military term; in casual conversation, people usually say 'died in the war' or 'was killed in battle'.
Antonyms
02a person killed in action
n. a soldier who has died during a battle.
n. a person who has been killed in action, often used when counting casualties.
“The general confirmed there were three KIAs after the night mission.”
“The memorial was built to honour the KIAs from the local regiment who never returned from the overseas conflict.”
Formal · Technical
Usage
Often used in the plural form (KIAs) in military reports.