loss

noun

ˈlȯs 

plural losses

1

: destruction, ruin

… quitted all to save / A world from utter loss …

—John Milton

habitat loss

2

a(1)

: the act or fact of being unable to keep or maintain something or someone

blood loss

hair loss

loss of a toe from frostbite

The accident was attributed to the drivers' loss of control.

Success or failure in the playoffs can ride on one momentary loss of composure.

—Ric Bucher

Activists … pushed for reform that would have forced the state to compensate the property owner for the loss of his livelihood.

—James Bovard

The tax was blamed for the loss of jobs in the country's food manufacturing sector.

—Helen Branswell

The team overcame the loss of its best player … to a torn ACL in its 10th game …

—Jeff Johnson

(2)

: the partial or complete deterioration or absence of a physical capability or function

a temporary loss of taste and smell

severe memory loss

loss of appetite

loss of consciousness

… one in about 350 babies is born deaf or hard of hearing in Minnesota each year. I was surprised to learn that this makes hearing loss the most common condition present at birth.

—Ann Busche

see also loss of life

b

: the harm or privation resulting from losing or being separated from someone or something

Her sudden death was a great loss to the community.

experienced a deep sense/feeling of loss

c

: an instance of losing someone or something

mourning the loss of a dear friend to cancer

She lamented the loss of their friendship.

3

: a person or thing or an amount that is lost: such as

a

losses plural : killed, wounded, or captured soldiers

The regiment suffered terrible losses.

b

: the power diminution of a circuit (see circuit entry 1 sense 4a) or circuit element corresponding to conversion of electrical energy into heat by resistance (see resistance entry 1 sense 4a)

4

a

: failure to gain, win, obtain, or utilize

loss of income/revenue

loss of a game

the party's losses in the election

Research hasn't revealed any permanent effects on the body resulting from sleep loss, but don't take that as an endorsement for skipping z's.

—Brad Wetzler

b

: an amount by which the cost of something exceeds its selling price

profits and losses

The business is operating at a loss.

sold the stock at a loss

5

: decrease in amount, magnitude, value, or degree

his recent weight loss

a loss in altitude/temperature

Efficiency losses led to lower profits.

Shares of tech stocks pared losses as the Nasdaq rallied sharply off the lows of the day.

—Rachel Fox

6

: the amount of an insured's financial detriment by death or damage that the insurer is liable for

Insured losses arising from a string of tornadoes in Missouri earlier this year may reach more than $139 million …

—Timothy Darragh

7

football : the distance the ball is moved away from the goal during a play

There was a gain of five yards on first down, but a loss of three yards on second down.

Phrases

at a loss

1

: uncertain as to how to proceed

was at a loss to explain the discrepancy

2

: unable to produce what is needed

at a loss for words

for a loss

: into a state of distress

events had thrown him for a loss

Synonyms

• absence
• lack
• misplacement
• deprivation
• mislaying

Examples of loss in a Sentence

The storm caused widespread loss of electricity.

The company's losses for the year were higher than expected.

A careless error resulted in the loss of the game.

The team suffered a 3–2 loss in the last game.

The team has an equal number of wins and losses.

the party's losses in the recent election

Recent Examples on the Web

Kansas City kicked off their season in Brazil with a disappointing loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, 27-21, but Swift and crew didn't make the trip. —Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025

So, on the night after the murder, the town’s streets were filled with anguished cries from the Inuit—wails of loss and pain. —Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025

The Warriors fell behind in the first half and never really recovered in a 139-119 road loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night. —Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025

View gallery - 4 images Researchers in Switzerland have stuffed a bunch of chips and sensors into socks to help people who suffer from some of the worst symptoms of diabetes – chronic pain and a loss of sensation in the feet. —Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English los, probably back-formation from lost, past participle of losen to lose

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing loss

• at a loss
• at a loss for words
• dead loss
• it's someone's loss
• loss adjuster
• loss leader
• loss of life
• loss ratio
• profit and loss
• sense/feeling of loss
• take a loss
• throw (someone) for a loss

Rhymes for loss

• blas
• bos
• boss
• bosse
• clos
• crosse
• dos
• doss
• dross
• floss
• foss
• fosse

Kids Definition

loss

noun

ˈlȯs 

1

a

: the act or an instance of losing

the loss of a ship

b

: the harm or distress resulting from losing

her death was a loss to the community

2

a

: a person, thing, or amount lost

b

plural : killed, wounded, or captured soldiers

3

: failure to gain, win, obtain, or use

especially : an amount by which the cost of something is above its selling price

4

: decrease in amount, size, or degree

Legal Definition

loss

noun

1

: physical, emotional, or especially economic harm or damage sustained: as

a

: decrease in value, capital, or amount compare gain

b

: an amount by which the cost of something (as goods or services) exceeds the selling price compare profit

c

: something unintentionally destroyed or placed beyond recovery

d

: the amount of an insured's financial detriment due to the occurrence of a stipulated event (as death, injury, destruction, or damage) in such a manner as to create liability in the insurer under the terms of the policy

Note: As a general rule, economic losses are deductible from adjusted gross income under section 165 of the Internal Revenue Code. There are, however, numerous exceptions and limitations.

— actual loss

: the identifiable and calculable monetary detriment that is suffered or will be suffered as a result of an act or event

— actual total loss

: a loss in marine insurance in which the property (as a vessel or cargo) cannot be repaired or recovered compare constructive total loss in this entry

— capital loss

: the amount by which the book value of a capital asset exceeds the amount realized from the sale or exchange of the asset

— casualty loss

: loss of property as a result of a fire, storm, shipwreck, or other catastrophic event

— consequential loss

: a loss that arises as an indirect result of an act or event

called also indirect loss

compare direct loss in this entry

— constructive total loss

: a loss in marine insurance in which the cost of repairing or recovering a ship or its cargo would be more than the ship or cargo is worth compare actual total loss in this entry

— direct loss

: a loss arising directly from an act or event compare consequential loss in this entry

— indirect loss

: consequential loss in this entry

— net operating loss

: the amount by which the expenses of operating a business exceed the income derived from it see also carryback, carryover

— ordinary loss

: a loss from the sale or exchange of any asset that is not a capital asset

— partial loss

: a loss arising from damage to property that does not render it a total loss

— total loss

: a loss arising from damage to property that is so substantial as to make the property valueless to an insured

2

: the act or fact of suffering physical, emotional, or especially economic harm or detriment