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

“There’s this big disjoint,” she added, “and it’s to the detriment of the country.”

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026

He described his client as "overwhelmed by feelings of embarrassment and shame" and said that following his arrest he lived "in almost total isolation" for months "at times to the detriment of his health".

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

Elevated U.S. inflation pressures continue to “underpin the U.S. dollar to the detriment of the Australian dollar,” StoneX’s Matt Simpson says, citing U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

"They kept off sensitive topics and followed the script to show the world that they can manage their competition and can cooperate on issues that are of no detriment," he said.

From Barron's ● May 15, 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

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

"The outcome for Dr Bronckaers is wholly justified, bearing in mind the detriments she has suffered that have not only affected her career, but her family and her financial situation," said John McShane.

From BBC ● Apr. 25, 2022

Hunt. their hands great losses, and sundrie sore detriments.

From Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (6 of 8) The Sixt Booke of the Historie of England by Holinshed, Raphael

Related Words

• disadvantage