wear and tear

American  

[tair] / tɛər /

Or wear-and-tear

noun

1. damage or deterioration resulting from ordinary use; normal depreciation.

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wear and tear British  

noun

1. damage, depreciation, or loss resulting from ordinary use

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wear and tear Idioms  

1. Damage and deterioration resulting from ordinary use and exposure, as in This sofa shows a lot of wear and tear; we should replace it. [Second half of 1600s]

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Etymology

Origin of wear and tear

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wear and tear

Lower limb injuries including sprains, bone damage and wear and tear of the tendons are common, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

Subscriber engagement, a separate issue, was also showing some signs of wear and tear, the Wall Street Journal reported on July 9.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

The MRI did not show any structural damage, only inflammation that Roberts attributed to the wear and tear of the season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2026

The wear and tear of working in warehouses for 20 years has also aggravated his health issues.

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026

Cymbeline was smiling too, though the wear and tear of the night could be seen all over her tired face.

From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older

Related Words

• depletion
• depreciation
• erosion