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

Recreation can ease tension and fatigue in the muscles and joints, supporting metabolic balance and strengthening the body's ability to resist wear and tear.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

Some examples of normal wear and tear include faded paint, worn carpeting and small holes from nails used to hang art.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

Orbán will be 63 next month, but the wear and tear of 38 years in frontline politics are obvious to even his hardcore supporters.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

The wear and tear of an intense road trip in which the first five games all came down to the final minutes didn’t faze Doncic.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

The casting process meant that no two metal letters were ever precisely the same, even before wear and tear.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Related Words

• depletion
• depreciation
• erosion