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

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

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

Generally speaking, most leases state that anything outside of normal wear and tear is considered property damage and might result in a deduction from your security deposit.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

“There’s going to be wear and tear on the Navy that’s going to be difficult to recover from very quickly,” said Thomas Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

Father is walking around in frayed trousers, and his tie is also showing signs of wear and tear.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

Related Words

• depletion
• depreciation
• erosion