# damaged

/ˈdæmədʒd/ (US) · /dˈæmɪdʒd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/damaged
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physically broken or spoiled

adjective · CEFR A2

broken, scratched, or harmed so that it is no longer in perfect condition.

For teachers: having suffered physical harm that impairs value, appearance, or function.

- The delivery company replaced the damaged box because the screen inside was cracked.
- The insurance adjuster noted that the damaged structural beams would require complete replacement rather than simple cosmetic repairs.

Usage: Often used with adverbs like 'badly', 'severely', or 'slightly'.

### 2. emotionally or reputationally harmed

adjective · CEFR B2

harmed in a way that is not physical, such as a person's feelings or a company's reputation.

For teachers: suffering from psychological harm or a loss of reputation and credibility.

- The scandal left the politician with a damaged reputation that was hard to fix.
- Psychologists worked with the refugees to address the needs of children who had been emotionally damaged by the conflict.

Usage: Commonly collocates with 'reputation', 'credibility', or 'psyche'.

### 3. past action of harming

verb · CEFR A2

the past tense of 'damage', meaning you harmed something earlier.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle form of the transitive verb 'damage'.

- The heavy hail damaged several cars parked on the street last night.
- The legal team argued that the defendant's actions had directly damaged the plaintiff's ability to conduct business in the region.

## Examples

- The storm left several damaged cars on the street.
- The shipping company refused to pay for the damaged goods because the box was already open.
- Archaeologists discovered several damaged frescoes within the ruins, though the central figures remained remarkably preserved despite centuries of exposure to the elements.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.