# damages

/ˈdæmədʒəz/ (US) · /dˈæmɪdʒɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/damages
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. legal compensation

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

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

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

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

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse the uncountable noun 'damage' (harm) with the plural noun 'damages' (money). Stress that 'damages' is a technical legal term.

## Examples

- The judge ordered the company to pay damages.
- The court awarded the plaintiff substantial damages to cover medical expenses and lost wages after the accident.
- Legal counsel argued that punitive damages were necessary to deter the corporation from future negligence, rather than merely compensating the victim for their immediate financial losses.

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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.