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

Generally speaking, most leases state that anything outside of normal wear and tear is considered property damage and might result in a deduction from your security deposit.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

Orbán will be 63 next month, but the wear and tear of 38 years in frontline politics are obvious to even his hardcore supporters.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

The wear and tear of an intense road trip in which the first five games all came down to the final minutes didn’t faze Doncic.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

This is why describing osteoarthritis as simple "wear and tear" is misleading.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

Father is walking around in frayed trousers, and his tie is also showing signs of wear and tear.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

Related Words

• depletion
• depreciation
• erosion