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

“They probably got over their skis in terms of monetizing the platform at the detriment to user experience, and they’ve reset the growth plan and pivoted back to focusing on user experience,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026

"Additionally, some trade unions are devoting energy to local consultations to mitigate the impact on those colleagues in detriment – focussing on providing specific solutions."

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

Bass had previously cited the uncertainty of the merger as a detriment to Hollywood workers’ livelihoods.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

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

From Salon ● Sep. 17, 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

And what are the nutrition benefits — and, possible, detriments?

From Salon ● Jan. 17, 2026

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

Sir, with your leave—I ask pardon—but the least thing detriments these tender colours; and as you have just been eating cheese with your hands— Farm.

From The Parent's Assistant by Maria Edgeworth

Related Words

• disadvantage