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

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

Marco Chan, a senior lecturer in aviation operations at Buckinghamshire New University, said the footage appeared to show the third engine had been damaged because it expelled a burst of smoke.

Read more on BBC

NGN agreed damages but made "no admission of liability in relation to the claimant's allegations of voicemail interception and/or other unlawful information gathering at The Sun", the court was told.

Read more on BBC

Pace said that around 1,000 families received supplies before Melissa hit, and despite damaged infrastructure and airport disruptions, the organisation has brought in some 100 tonnes of supplies since then.

Read more on Barron's

Russian strikes have particularly damaged Ukraine's natural gas facilities, which produce the main fuel for heating in the country.

Read more on Barron's

"But damaging their shells may increase oyster death rates."

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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