# KIA

/ˈkiɝ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kia
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. killed in action

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

Stands for Killed In Action. You use this to describe a soldier who has died during a battle.

For teachers: 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.

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'.

### 2. a person killed in action

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a soldier who has died during a battle.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Often used in the plural form (KIAs) in military reports.

## Examples

- The soldier was listed as KIA after the battle.
- The memorial wall honors those who were KIA during the conflict to ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten.
- Military records were updated to reflect that the missing pilot was officially KIA, providing the family with a somber form of closure after years of uncertainty.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.