damage

The word “damage” means harm or injury that reduces the value, soundness, or usefulness of something. In plain terms, harm done to something, or the act of causing that harm.

“Damage” is pronounced DA-mihj (/ˈdæmɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).

Here is “damage” used in a sentence: “The storm caused serious damage to the roof.”

Depending on how it is used, “damage” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “damage” comes from Latin. From Old French damage, tracing back to Latin damnum ("loss" or "harm") — the same root behind "condemn" and "damn.".

“Damage” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Damage” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: harm or injury that reduces the value, soundness, or usefulness of something.

Damage (uncountable) is the harm itself — "the storm caused serious damage." Damages (plural) is a legal term meaning the money awarded in court to compensate for that harm — "she was awarded damages." So you assess the damage to something, but you claim or receive damages as payment.

The words overlap heavily. Damage usually refers to physical harm that reduces something's value or function — a dented car, a cracked screen. Harm is broader, covering injury to people, health, feelings, or reputation as well as objects. You can harm a person; you typically damage a thing.

Damage is classified in many ways: physical damage to objects or buildings, bodily or personal injury, and property damage. Other common types include water, fire, structural, and cosmetic damage, plus figurative kinds such as reputational or emotional damage. The shared idea is a loss of value, soundness, or usefulness.