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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wear and tear

Osteoarthritis is often called a condition caused by wear and tear, but that description leaves out much of the biology involved.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026

Sinking money into your jalopy has a higher payoff when a new or lightly used car is out of reach financially—maybe not at first, but increasingly so as old cars face wear and tear.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

Some wrote anxiously about the “strain . . . being felt throughout the services, in terms of wear and tear on the troops, their families, and their equipment.”

From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026

The star, which has been fenced off, is being repaired by the Hollywood Historic Trust because of cracks from wear and tear, Martinez said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 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

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Related Words

• depletion
• depreciation
• erosion

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