wear and tear

American  

[tair] / tɛər /

Or wear-and-tear

noun

1. damage or deterioration resulting from ordinary use; normal depreciation.

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wear and tear British  

noun

1. damage, depreciation, or loss resulting from ordinary use

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wear and tear Idioms  

1. Damage and deterioration resulting from ordinary use and exposure, as in This sofa shows a lot of wear and tear; we should replace it. [Second half of 1600s]

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Etymology

Origin of wear and tear

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wear and tear

It's the kind of wear and tear you might expect for a man who for almost 20 years has carried the hopes of a nation still deeply affected by past horrors.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

Together, these findings strengthen the idea that aging is not simply the result of wear and tear across the body.

From Science Daily ● May 24, 2026

Boeing, owing to its past takeover of MD-11 maker McDonnell Douglas, plays a major role in tracking how its aircraft handle wear and tear and informing customers how to maintain them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

The Dodgers are going to protect their personnel from as much wear and tear as possible — and from themselves.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2026

Smiling, he said, “I can’t see any wear and tear anywhere. You both look like you’re in pretty good shape to me.”

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Related Words

• depletion
• depreciation
• erosion