detriment
DEHT-rih-muhnt
Detriment (noun) means Harm or damage, especially as a drawback or cost of something else. Example: “He worked long hours, to the detriment of his health.”
noun
1
Harm or damage, especially as a drawback or cost of something else.
"“There’s far more evidence for coffee’s benefits than harms,” Dr. Cryer said — which is something worth keeping in mind, he added, while you scroll through social media stories that profess the brew’s detriments."
— Trisha Pasricha, Is It Bad to Drink Coffee on an Empty Stomach? (2023)
""Would it be fair to say that when it came to making trouble, you'd make up for what you didn't absolutely know . . . and to our detriment?""
— Stephen King, 11/22/63 (2011)
"He worked long hours, to the detriment of his health."
"The policy benefited shareholders to the detriment of workers."
How to use detriment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHarm caused to one thing as a side effect of favoring another.
Common pairings
to the detriment of
without detriment
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Word forms
- Plural
- detriments
- Third person singular
- detriments
- Past tense
- detrimented
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He worked long hours, to the _____ of his health.
Etymology
From Old French detriement, from Latin detrimentum ("loss, damage" — literally "a rubbing away"), from deterere ("to wear down").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for detriment
pediment
regiment
sediment
condiment
sentiment
merriment
compliment
experiment
embodiment
impediment
accompaniment
See all rhymes for detriment →
Frequently asked questions
What does “detriment” mean?
The word “detriment” means harm or damage, especially as a drawback or cost of something else. In plain terms, harm caused to one thing as a side effect of favoring another.
How do you pronounce “detriment”?
“Detriment” is pronounced DEHT-rih-muhnt (/ˈdɛtɹɪmənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “detriment” in a sentence?
Here is “detriment” used in a sentence: “He worked long hours, to the detriment of his health.”
What is another word for “detriment”?
Words with a similar meaning to “detriment” include harm, hurt, illfare, damage, expense and disadvantage.
What is the opposite of “detriment”?
The opposite of “detriment” — its antonyms — is benefit.
What part of speech is “detriment”?
“Detriment” is a noun.
Where does the word “detriment” come from?
The word “detriment” comes from Latin. From Old French detriement, from Latin detrimentum ("loss, damage" — literally "a rubbing away"), from deterere ("to wear down").
Is “detriment” a common word?
“Detriment” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
