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wear and tear
noun
: the loss, injury, or stress to which something is subjected by or in the course of use
especially
: normal depreciation
Examples of wear and tear in a Sentence
my favorite jeans finally succumbed to wear and tear and had to be replaced
Recent Examples on the Web
The energy-efficient regeneration process helps reduce wear and tear on the brake pads.
—Mark Maynard, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
Many insurance claims result in good-faith disputes about how much the insurance company should pay — for example, whether roof damage was caused by hail, which is usually covered by insurance, or just wear and tear, which isn’t.
—Jay Feinman, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2025
With Philadelphia having already clinched a playoff berth, the question is whether coach Nick Sirianni will want to expose Barkley to more wear and tear in pursuit of the record next week or will rest him ahead of the postseason.
—Andrew Greif, NBC News, 29 Dec. 2024
After six months of traveling with it, it's held up beautifully and has shown virtually no signs of wear and tear.
—Jasmine Grant, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1666, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near wear and tear
Cite this Entry
“Wear and tear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20and%20tear. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
wear and tear
noun
: the loss or damage that occurs to something in the course of normal use
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