detrimental: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal/neutral
Quick answer
What does “detrimental” mean?
causing harm or damage.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
causing harm or damage
having a negative effect or impact; injurious to something's well-being, function, or development
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the word identically.
Connotations
Formal register in both. Slightly more common in British legal/parliamentary contexts historically, but now equally used.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English corpora, but difference is minimal.
Grammar
How to Use “detrimental” in a Sentence
be detrimental to [NP]have a detrimental effect/impact on [NP]prove detrimental to [NP]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “detrimental” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A – 'detriment' as a noun, but no verb form in common use.
American English
- N/A – 'detriment' as a noun, but no verb form in common use.
adverb
British English
- N/A – 'detrimentally' exists but is very rare.
American English
- N/A – 'detrimentally' exists but is very rare.
adjective
British English
- The council argued the development would be detrimental to the local wildlife.
American English
- The policy could have a detrimental impact on economic recovery.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe policies or market conditions that harm profits or growth: 'The new regulations could be detrimental to small businesses.'
Academic
Common in research papers to discuss negative causal relationships: 'The study found a detrimental correlation between screen time and sleep quality.'
Everyday
Used formally in discussions about health, relationships, or decisions: 'Staying up late is detrimental to your performance.'
Technical
Used in environmental science, medicine, and engineering to describe damaging processes or substances.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “detrimental”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “detrimental”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “detrimental”
- Incorrect preposition: 'detrimental for' (correct: 'detrimental to').
- Overuse for minor negatives. 'The rain was detrimental to our picnic' is too strong.
- Misspelling: 'detrimental' (correct: 'detrimental').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is used in formal and neutral contexts. In casual speech, people often use 'harmful', 'bad for', or 'damaging' instead.
The adjective is almost always followed by the preposition 'to' (detrimental to something). It can also be used in the pattern 'have a detrimental effect/impact on something'.
It is very unusual. It describes effects, actions, or conditions. You would say 'a detrimental influence' or 'his behaviour was detrimental', not 'he is detrimental'.
They are close synonyms. 'Detrimental' is more formal and often implies a slower, more cumulative, or indirect harm, especially to abstract things like reputation or progress. 'Harmful' is more general and direct.
causing harm or damage.
Detrimental: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdetrɪˈment(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdetrɪˈment(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a detrimental effect”
- “to the detriment of”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DETRIMENTAL sounds like 'deter mental' – something that *deters* your *mental* (or overall) well-being is harmful.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTH/WELL-BEING IS A STRUCTURE (something detrimental weakens or damages that structure).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'detrimental' correctly?