Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Medieval Latin
Origin: collateralis, from Latin com- ( COM-) + lateralis ( LATERAL)

collateral

2 adjective
     
collateral2 [only before noun]
1

collateral damage

people who are hurt or killed, or property that is damaged accidentally in a war - used especially by the army, navy etc:
Hitting any non-military targets would risk 'collateral damage'.
2 relating to something or happening as a result of it, but not as important:
There may be collateral benefits to the scheme.
3SSF collateral relatives are members of your family who are not closely related to you
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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