damage

[dam-ij]

noun

1. injury or harm that reduces value or usefulness.

   The storm did considerable damage to the crops.

   Synonyms: loss

2. Law.,  damages, the estimated money equivalent for detriment or injury sustained.

3. Informal.,  Often damages. cost; expense; charge.

   What are the damages for the lubrication job on my car?

verb (used with object)

damaged, damaging 

1. to cause damage to; injure or harm; reduce the value or usefulness of.

   He damaged the saw on a nail.

   Synonyms: hurt, impair

verb (used without object)

damaged, damaging 

1. to become damaged.

   Soft wood damages easily.

damage

/ ˈdæmɪdʒ /

noun

1. injury or harm impairing the function or condition of a person or thing

2. loss of something desirable

3. informal,  cost; expense (esp in the phrase what's the damage? )

verb

1. (tr) to cause damage to

2. (intr) to suffer damage

Other Word Forms

• damageability noun
• damagingly adverb
• damaging adjective
• damageable adjective
• damager noun
• damageableness noun
• nondamageable adjective
• predamage noun
• quasi-damaged adjective
• redamage verb (used with object)
• undamageable adjective
• undamaged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of damage¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, equivalent to dam (from Latin damnum “damage, fine”) + -age -age; damn

Word History and Origins

Origin of damage¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin damnum injury, loss, fine

Idioms and Phrases

• do one wrong (damage)
• the damage

Synonym Study

Damage, detriment, harm, mischief refer to injuries of various kinds. Damage is the kind of injury or the effect of injury that directly impairs appearance, value, usefulness, soundness, etc.: Fire causes damage to property. Detriment is a falling off from an original condition as the result of damage, depreciation, devaluation, etc.: Overeating is a detriment to health. Harm may denote either physical hurt or mental, moral, or spiritual injury: bodily harm; harm to one's self-confidence. Mischief may be damage, harm, trouble, or misfortune caused by a person, especially if maliciously: an enemy who would do one mischief.

Example Sentences

Vlast has appealed the damages stated by the court, arguing that the case set an important precedent for defamation of virtual avatars.

From BBC

A man has been offered £25,000 after the government failed to properly process damages owed to him under the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

From BBC

He also brought a drone into the house without permits or a licensed pilot, which could have caused damage, they said.

From Los Angeles Times

Remedies may include statutory or compensatory damages, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs.

From Los Angeles Times

Crews salvaged much of the original structure but replaced the damaged section with fiber-reinforced polymer in the hope of making the span stronger and more resilient to its unforgiving environment.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• batter 
• break 
• burn 
• contaminate 
• harm 
• hurt 
• impair 
• infect 
• injure 
• maim 
• mangle 
• mar 
• pollute 
• ravage 
• ruin 
• scorch 
• smash 
• tarnish 
• tear 
• undermine