Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Detriment

Det′ri-ment

(dĕt′rĭ-ment)
,
Noun.
[L.
detrimentum
, fr.
deterere
,
detritum
, to rub or wear away;
de
+
terere
to rub: cf. F.
détriment
. See
Trite
.]
1.
That which injures or causes damage; mischief; harm; diminution; loss; damage; – used very generically;
as,
detriments
to property, religion, morals, etc.
I can repair
That
detriment
, if such it be.
Milton.
Syn. – Injury; loss; damage; disadvantage; prejudice; hurt; mischief; harm.

Det′ri-ment

,
Verb.
T.
To do injury to; to hurt.
[Archaic]
Other might be
determined
thereby.
Fuller.

Webster 1828 Edition

Detriment

DETRIMENT

,
Noun.
[L., worn off.] Loss; damage; injury; mischief; harm; diminution. We speak of detriment to interest, property, religion, morals, reputation, and to land or buildings. It is a word of very general application.

Definition 2025

detriment

detriment

See also: détriment

English

Noun

detriment ‎(plural detriments)

  1. Harm, hurt, damage.
    • 1872, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, chapter 7, in The Possessed:
      “But marriage in secret, Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch — a fatal secret. I receive money from you, and I'm suddenly asked the question, 'What's that money for?' My hands are tied; I cannot answer to the detriment of my sister, to the detriment of the family honour.”
  2. (Britain, obsolete) A charge made to students and barristers for incidental repairs of the rooms they occupy.

Usage notes

  • Often used in the form "to someone's detriment".

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related terms

Translations

External links

  • detriment in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • detriment in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Etymology

From Old French detriement, from Latin detrimentum ‎(“loss, damage, literally a rubbing off”), from deterere ‎(“to rub off, wear”), from de- ‎(“down, away”) + terere ‎(“to rub”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈdɛtɹɪmənt/

Similar Results