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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wear and tear

And wanting to reduce wear and tear on your engine.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026

Although these muscles experience wear and tear throughout life, they also have a remarkable ability to repair themselves.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026

The wear and tear is cumulative, adding up over time like it does for all contact sports.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026

Sinking money into your jalopy has a higher payoff when a new or lightly used car is out of reach financially—maybe not at first, but increasingly so as old cars face wear and tear.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

His dad was so tired from the wear and tear of the week and trying to catch up around the place that when he wasn’t actually working, he was sleeping in front of the TV.

From "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson

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Related Words

• depletion
• depreciation
• erosion

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