detriment

noun

det·​ri·​ment ˈde-trə-mənt How to pronounce detriment (audio)
Synonyms of detriment
1
: injury, damage
did hard work without detriment to their health
He puts all his time into his career to the detriment of [= in a way that is harmful to] his personal life.
2
: a cause of injury or damage
a detriment to progress

Synonyms of detriment

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Musk factor in race could cut either way Whether Musk will be a boon or detriment to Gober's campaign remains to be seen. — Lora Kolodny,dan Mangan, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026 While problematic substance use, passive screen time and sleep problems tended to compromise well-being, these factors weren’t the biggest detriment. — Roxanne Prichard, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026 Turner looks like he might have been grown in a lab to play Bond, which is the best thing about him as a choice, but also a potential detriment if producers want somebody who feels more original. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2026 One thing Stearns has trusted, perhaps to his detriment, is the Mets’ statistical model to evaluate player performance. — Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detriment

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

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

Phrases Containing detriment

Browse Nearby Words

detribalize
detriment
detrimental
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Cite this Entry

“Detriment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detriment. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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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
ˌde-trə-ˈmen-təl How to pronounce detriment (audio)
adjective
detrimentally adverb
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