detriment

[de-truh-muhnt]

noun

1. loss, damage, disadvantage, or injury.

2. a cause of loss or damage.

detriment

/ ˈdɛtrɪmənt /

noun

1. disadvantage or damage; harm; loss

2. a cause of disadvantage or damage

Word History and Origins

Origin of detriment¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of detriment¹

C15: from Latin dētrīmentum, a rubbing off, hence damage, from dēterere to rub away, from _de- + terere to rub

Synonym Study

See damage.

Example Sentences

In favor of ending quarterly reporting: Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman says the costs of quarterly reporting discourages companies from going public, to the detriment of everyday investors.

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Meanwhile, Apple’s delayed rollout of its Apple Intelligence features “has not been a detriment to iPhone sales,” Counterpoint said.

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“We will most likely see a renegotiation to the detriment of North American competitiveness,” he says.

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Shealy spoke of the detriment the bill would have to South Carolinians and their doctors, while Gustafson’s testimony urged legislators to vote their conscience rather than party expectations.

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But administration officials have defended their decision to shrink the bureau to a fraction of its size, arguing that the agency had engaged in the “weaponization” of consumer protection to the detriment of industry.

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Related Words

• disadvantage