wear and tear

noun

: the loss, injury, or stress to which something is subjected by or in the course of use

especially : normal depreciation

Synonyms

• wear

Example Sentences

my favorite jeans finally succumbed to wear and tear and had to be replaced

Recent Examples on the Web

The rug’s recycled polyester material stands up to normal wear and tear, showing no signs of damage or snagging. Belle Duchene, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2022

The passport is undamaged other than normal wear and tear. Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 25 Oct. 2022

Most car owners replace their tires every five or so years because of this normal wear and tear — but the environmental consequences are extreme. Rebecca Cairns; Video By Dan Tham, CNN, 16 Aug. 2022

Myriad injuries combined with the normal wear and tear a major-league pitching staff endures over the course of a season has led to quite the churn at Nashville, the Milwaukee Brewers' Class AAA affiliate. Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 15 July 2022

Weak nails are all too common, and can be the result of normal wear and tear, nutritional deficiencies, or damage from nail treatments like gel, shellac, acrylics, and more. Jillian Ruffo, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 June 2022

All of this on top of the normal wear and tear that occurs throughout an 82-game season. Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 16 Apr. 2022

Heart failure is most common in people 65 and older, which may partially be due to normal wear and tear on the heart, according to Dr. Ahmad. Ashley Abramson, SELF, 13 Apr. 2022

But the researchers offer a range of possible explanations, including library fires, recycling of older manuscripts, insect damage, and normal wear and tear. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1666, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

wear and tear

noun

: the loss or damage that occurs to something in the course of normal use