detriment
gb/dˈɛtɹəmənt/ us/dˈɛtɹəmənt/
C1
English
káros hatás, hátrány, kár
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
káros hatás
B2
Usage pattern:
[detriment] (to [someone/something])
The long hours were a detriment to her health.
A hosszú munkaidő káros volt az egészségére.
He refused the offer because he thought it would be to his detriment in the long run.
Visszautasította az ajánlatot, mert úgy gondolta, hogy hosszú távon a kárára válna.
Cutting corners may bring short-term savings but will be a detriment to quality.
Learner examples
Smoking is a detriment to your health.
A dohányzás káros az egészségedre.
Too little sleep is a detriment to learning.
A túl kevés alvás árt a tanulásnak.
Common mistake:
Often confused with 'detrimental' (adjective) or 'determinant' (different word).
Meaning
harm or damage
Collocations
to someone's detriment
|to the detriment of
|without detriment
|without detriment to
|cause detriment
|serious detriment
|potential detriment
|detriment to health
|detriment to safety
|suffer detriment
Synonyms
harm (More general and common; 'detriment' often sounds more formal.)
|
damage (Often suggests physical or measurable harm.)
|
injury (Often refers to harm to a person, especially physical.)
Antonyms
benefit (A positive effect that helps rather than harms.)
|
advantage (A favorable condition rather than a harmful one.)
Themes
health
|daily_life
|work
|law
Definition
something bad that hurts or damages someone or something
harm, damage, or a negative effect that makes someone or something worse off.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
2
hátrány
B2
Usage pattern:
without [detriment] (to [something])
Skipping training is a detriment to team performance.
Az edzés kihagyása hátrányosan befolyásolja a csapat teljesítményét.
The lack of feedback proved to be a detriment to the project.
A visszajelzés hiánya végül a projekt hátrányára vált.
They redesigned the app to improve speed with no detriment to security.
Learner examples
Bad time management is a detriment to your work.
A rossz időgazdálkodás hátrányosan hat a munkádra.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use it like a countable object (e.g., 'a detriment' is possible, but it is often uncountable in set phrases like 'without detriment').
Meaning
a disadvantage or setback
Collocations
a detriment to performance
|a detriment to productivity
|a detriment to progress
|a detriment to learning
|a detriment to development
|work to the detriment of
|without detriment to quality
|without detriment to safety
|to the detriment of results
|to the detriment of growth
Synonyms
disadvantage (More common and less formal; often used in comparisons.)
|
setback (Emphasizes an obstacle or delay in progress.)
|
drawback (Often used for a negative feature of a plan or product.)
Antonyms
strength (A positive quality that improves results.)
|
asset (Something useful or valuable rather than harmful.)
Themes
education
|work
|business
Definition
something that makes success harder or results worse
a disadvantage or setback that reduces the success, quality, or effectiveness of something.
NOUN
C2
LEGAL
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] suffer(s) [detriment] (as a result of [something])
The claimant argued that they suffered detriment after relying on the promise.
A felperes azzal érvelt, hogy hátrány érte, miután az ígéretre hagyatkozott.
The contract clause was challenged as causing unfair detriment to consumers.
A szerződéses kikötést azért támadták meg, mert tisztességtelen hátrányt okozott a fogyasztóknak.
The court considered whether any real detriment had been proved.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this with 'detention' (a different word).
Meaning
loss or harm in law
Collocations
suffer detriment
|financial detriment
|material detriment
|economic detriment
|to the detriment of a party
|detriment suffered
|prove detriment
|detriment and reliance
Synonyms
loss (Often focuses on financial or measurable harm.)
|
prejudice (Legal/formal; means harm to a party’s position or rights.)
Antonyms
gain (An increase or advantage rather than a loss.)
Themes
legal
|business
Definition
in law, harm or loss that someone experiences
loss, harm, or damage suffered by a person, especially as a factor in legal responsibility or a legal claim.
Grammar
Dictionary form
detriment
IPA
GB/dˈɛtɹəmənt/
US/dˈɛtɹəmənt/
Syllables & stress
det - ri - ment (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (det)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: detriment
- Plural: detriment, detriments
Word family
Forms
detriments
noun
Core family
detrimental
adjective C1
Advanced or less common
detrimentally
adverb C1
Expressions
no detriment to
1/nˈoʊ dˈɛtɹəmənt tə/
fixed phrase
formal
causing no harm to something
it does not harm something
Examples
- Remote work can be offered with no detriment to productivity.
- The policy was introduced with no detriment to existing customers.
- They adjusted the schedule with no detriment to service.
Learner examples
- We changed the plan with no detriment to the result.
to someone's detriment
1/tə sˈʌmwˌʌnz dˈɛtɹəmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
causing harm to someone
in a way that is bad for someone
Examples
- He ignored the warning to his detriment.
- She stayed silent to her detriment during negotiations.
- They delayed repairs to their detriment, and the costs rose.
Learner examples
- He ate too much sugar to his detriment.
to the detriment of
1/tə ðə dˈɛtɹəmənt əv/
fixed phrase
formal
harming one thing for another
in a way that harms someone or something
Examples
- He focused on speed to the detriment of accuracy.
- The city expanded rapidly, often to the detriment of green spaces.
- She worked late every night, to the detriment of her health.
Learner examples
- He studied math to the detriment of his sleep.
without detriment to
1/wɪðˈaʊt dˈɛtɹəmənt tə/
fixed phrase
formal
with no harm to something
without making something worse
Examples
- The changes were made without detriment to patient safety.
- You can reduce sugar without detriment to taste by using spices.
- They shortened the meeting without detriment to decision-making.
Learner examples
- We can do this without detriment to quality.