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damages

n.
US //ˈdæmədʒəz// UK //dˈæmɪdʒɪz// dam·ages
  1. 1 legal compensation (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Technical Law

    money that a court orders someone to pay because they caused harm, loss, or injury to another person.

    financial compensation awarded by a court to a claimant for loss or injury caused by a breach of duty or contract.

    Example

    The company had to pay huge damages to the workers who got sick.

    Example

    The jury awarded the plaintiff substantial compensatory damages after finding the manufacturer negligent in its safety testing protocols.

    Usage

    Always used in the plural form when referring to legal compensation.

    Teacher's tip

    Learners often confuse the uncountable noun 'damage' (harm) with the plural noun 'damages' (money). Stress that 'damages' is a technical legal term.
    Pitfall
    The storm caused many damages to the roof.
    The storm caused a lot of damage to the roof.

    Use 'damage' (uncountable) for physical harm. Use 'damages' (plural) only for the money paid as compensation in a legal context.

Related words

Last updated June 20, 2026