detriment

American  

[de-truh-muhnt] / ˈdɛ trə mənt /

noun

• detriments
  plural

1. loss, damage, disadvantage, or injury.

2. a cause of loss or damage.

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detriment British  

/ ˈdɛtrɪmənt /

noun

1. disadvantage or damage; harm; loss

2. a cause of disadvantage or damage

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Synonym Usage

See damage.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• detriments
  plural

Etymology

Origin of detriment

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English from Middle French, from Latin dētrīmentum “loss, damage,” from dētrī- ( see detritus) + -mentum -ment

Explanation

Detriment is the hurt or harm as a result of damage, loss, or a bad decision. The developers won the lawsuit, much to the detriment of the people who live near the construction site. The meaning of detriment has not changed much from its roots in the Latin word, detrimentum, which is "a rubbing off, loss, damage, defeat." A detriment is a loss that wears you down. Smoking is a detriment to good health, as is standing in the snow barefooted. To the detriment of the people who clean the floors, we gave the girls scrambled eggs right before gymnastics class.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

detriment detriments

“I want to improve myself, but not at the detriment of others,” Cruise tells GQ.

From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2026

This is particularly hard to swallow if there are children who have not treated a parent well or if a second spouse inherits the lion’s share of an estate, to the detriment of the children.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

“Sometimes to her detriment, she’s like, ‘That was good, but how can it be better?’

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Others say the company's super-cheap products and frenzied online marketing encourage a culture of overconsumption to the detriment of the environment.

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

“It’s a love of a bonnet, but I prefer the face inside, for it looks young and happy again,” and John kissed the smiling face, to the great detriment of the rosebud under the chin.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

AI certainly has its list of detriments but, surprisingly, ChatGPT didn’t disappoint with its recommendations, tips and menu options.

From Salon ● Nov. 23, 2024

In an hourlong conversation, in a hotel somewhat more modest than Moscow’s Metropol, they discussed claustrophobia, facial hair and the benefits and detriments of working with a spouse.

From New York Times ● Mar. 31, 2024

A founder of the Indian National Congress, he expressed the opinions of many middle-class Indians in 1871 when he wrote on the subject of the benefits and detriments of British rule of India.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022

Palmer spoke with The Washington Post about the many jobs she holds, the detriments of living superficially and why working on her first Peele project was so refreshing.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 22, 2022

For which detriments accruing from this abuse to the public every vain swearer is responsible; and he would do well to consider that he will never be able to make reparation for them. 

From Sermons on Evil-Speaking by Isaac Barrow

Related Words

• disadvantage