detriment
Americannoun
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detriments
plural
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loss, damage, disadvantage, or injury.
-
a cause of loss or damage.
noun
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disadvantage or damage; harm; loss
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a cause of disadvantage or damage
Synonym Usage
See damage.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing detriment
The Book Thief
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Tears of a Tiger
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Britain's Finest Hour Speech - Winston Churchill (1940)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“Sometimes to her detriment, she’s like, ‘That was good, but how can it be better?’
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
“The conditions encourage speed. Removing the source of the odors is the primary objective here. However, that speed should not come at the detriment of the emission of odors or public health.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
The International Monetary Fund has said the Chilean reform package might boost economic growth but to the detriment of government finances.
From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026
This was, at times, to his detriment – think Alexander-Arnold's struggles playing in midfield.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
But that name turned out to be a detriment rather than an asset to me.
From "Tears of a Tiger" by Sharon M. Draper
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
"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 Raphael Holinshed
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
