ENGLISH
REFERENCE

detrimental

adj.
US //ˌdɛtɹəˈmɛnəɫ// UK //dˌɛtɹɪmˈɛntəl// detri·men·tal
  1. 1 harmful (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    causing harm or damage to something.

    causing damage, harm, or disadvantage. Often used with the preposition 'to'.

    Example

    Too much stress can be detrimental to your physical health.

    Example

    The new trade regulations proved detrimental to small businesses, which lacked the capital to absorb the increased administrative costs.

    Usage

    Commonly follows the verb 'to be' and precedes the preposition 'to'.
    Pitfall
    Smoking is detrimental for your health.
    Smoking is detrimental to your health.

    The adjective 'detrimental' almost always takes the preposition 'to', not 'for'.

Origin

From Medieval Latin *dētrīmentālis, from Latin dētrīmentum (“harm”), from dēterō (“to rub off, wear”), from dē- (“down, away”) + terō (“to rub or grab”).

Word family

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