detriment
gb/dˈɛtɹəmənt/ us/dˈɛtɹəmənt/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
abstract
1
harm or damage
something bad that hurts or damages someone or something
Usage pattern:
[detriment] (to [someone/something])
Common mistake:
Often confused with 'detrimental' (adjective) or 'determinant' (different word).
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.)
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
Themes
health
|daily_life
|work
|law
Examples
- The long hours were a detriment to her health.
- He refused the offer because he thought it would be to his detriment in the long run.
- Cutting corners may bring short-term savings but will be a detriment to quality.
Learner examples
- Smoking is a detriment to your health.
- Too little sleep is a detriment to learning.
Noun
formal
C1
abstract
2
a disadvantage or setback
something that makes success harder or results worse
Usage pattern:
without [detriment] (to [something])
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').
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.)
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
Themes
education
|work
|business
Examples
- Skipping training is a detriment to team performance.
- The lack of feedback proved to be a detriment to the project.
- They redesigned the app to improve speed with no detriment to security.
Learner examples
- Bad time management is a detriment to your work.
Noun
legal
C2
abstract
3
loss or harm in law
in law, harm or loss that someone experiences
Usage pattern:
[someone] suffer(s) [detriment] (as a result of [something])
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this with 'detention' (a different word).
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.)
Collocations
suffer detriment
|financial detriment
|material detriment
|economic detriment
|to the detriment of a party
|detriment suffered
|prove detriment
|detriment and reliance
Themes
legal
|business
Examples
- The claimant argued that they suffered detriment after relying on the promise.
- The contract clause was challenged as causing unfair detriment to consumers.
- The court considered whether any real detriment had been proved.
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.
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.
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.
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.