detriment

noun

det·​ri·​ment ˈde-trə-mənt 

1

: injury, damage

did hard work without detriment to his health

2

: a cause of injury or damage

a detriment to progress

Synonyms

• affliction
• damage
• harm
• hurt
• injury

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

But to say that because some researchers find a detriment, even if many others, countless others, over the decades have found more benefits, then no one can have those benefits, is not upholding personal freedom. —Megha Satyanarayana, Scientific American, 4 Apr. 2025

The show's multimedia elements are at times dizzying, occasionally to the show's detriment. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Balance Is Key To mitigate any detriments associated with gaming, experts stress that balance as key when a child shows a passion for gaming. —Melissa Willets, Parents, 19 Mar. 2025

Instead, with billions of dollars in federal money at stake, Healey has doubled down on her attacks on Trump to the certain detriment of the state. —Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin dētrīmentum "reduction in quantity, diminishment, harm, damage," from dētrī-, variant stem of dēterere "to wear away, rub off, lessen, impair" + -mentum -ment — more at detritus

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing detriment

• to one's detriment
• to the detriment of
• without detriment to

Kids Definition

detriment

noun

det·​ri·​ment ˈde-trə-mənt 

: injury or damage or its cause

Legal Definition

detriment

noun

det·​ri·​ment ˈde-trə-mənt 

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

ˌde-trə-ˈmen-təl 

adjective

detrimentally adverb