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

This is why describing osteoarthritis as simple "wear and tear" is misleading.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

Either way, they accumulate less wear and tear.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

Most of the air pollution I was breathing in came from traffic – billowing invisibly out of exhaust pipes, but also released by the wear and tear of tyres and brakes.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

Your weight and size will also affect the wear and tear on the mattress you choose and, importantly, how it feels.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 26, 2026

“They complain that the skin and tissues of the face and neck inevitably show the wear and tear of years,” she wrote.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Related Words

• depletion
• depreciation
• erosion