detriment

noun

det·​ri·​ment ˈde-trə-mənt How to pronounce detriment (audio)
1
: injury, damage
did hard work without detriment to his health
2
: a cause of injury or damage
a detriment to progress

Examples of detriment in a Sentence

opponents of casino gambling claim that it is a detriment to society at large the requirement that runners wear shoes for the race worked to his detriment since he was used to running barefoot
Recent Examples on the Web From trouble digesting, to the spread of disease and disrupted behavior patterns, feeding wildlife can be a huge detriment to their health. Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 But one thing that luxury buyers, sellers, and agents will have to look out for is the mansion tax: a darling of politicians pushing for more affordable housing support and a detriment to those close to the luxury-housing market. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2024 The franchise has a history of signing position players to long-term contracts—often to their detriment—and Bellinger would be a consolation prize and the nucleus of their rebuild. Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 What all of this means for recruiting efforts is a two-pronged detriment. Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 9 Feb. 2024 The technology world can be, to its detriment, too analytical, sort of arrogant, and self-important, and those characteristics are anti-empathy. Phil Wahba, Fortune, 25 Jan. 2024 Scientists have long known that artificial light affects wildlife—often to the animals’ detriment. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2024 Those who read about the short-term costs were 30% less likely to choose the cookies than those who read about the long-term costs and 45% less likely than those who didn’t read about any detriments to sugar. Discover Magazine, 6 Jan. 2024 Humidity is always a detriment, but the Andes are notably dry. John Branch, New York Times, 9 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'detriment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin detrimentum, from deterere to wear away, impair, from de- + terere to rub — more at throw entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of detriment was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near detriment

Cite this Entry

“Detriment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detriment. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

detriment

noun
det·​ri·​ment ˈde-trə-mənt How to pronounce detriment (audio)
: injury or damage or its cause

Legal Definition

detriment

noun
det·​ri·​ment ˈde-trə-mənt How to pronounce detriment (audio)
1
: injury, loss
also : the cause of an injury or loss
2
: a giving up of a thing or mode of conduct to which one is entitled that constitutes consideration for a contract

called also legal detriment

detrimental adjective
detrimentally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on detriment

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