crossfire

From cross- + fire.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɹɒsfaɪə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈkɹɔːsfaɪɹ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: cross‧fire

crossfire (countable and uncountable, plural crossfires)

1. (military) An arrangement of two or more weapons so each can fire diagonally at something in front of a line between them.
2. The danger to a third party passing between two belligerents firing at one another.

   The two factions were either side of the road. A civilian lorry was caught in the crossfire and became collateral damage

3. The danger to a third party passing between a gunman and his target.
   • 2024 May 15, Geneva Abdul, “Woman hit in London drive-by shooting was not intended target, police say”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:

     A woman who was caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting in north London on Tuesday evening was not the intended target, police have said.

4. (by extension) A heated confrontation between opposing factions.