Loss — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈlȯs/

Meaning & Definition of Loss

Loss (noun)

  1. destruction, ruin
  2. the act or fact of being unable to keep or maintain something or someone
  3. the partial or complete deterioration or absence of a physical capability or function

Loss (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the act or an instance of not having or being able to find

    "he was upset over the loss of his wedding ring"

    similar: mislaying, misplacement
    related: deprivation, dispossession, privation, forfeit, forfeiture, penalty, sacrifice, bereavement, absence, lack, need, want
    opposite: acquisition, gain
    near: control, hands, having, keeping, possession

  2. a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed

    "the platoon was able to accomplish its reconnaissance mission without any losses"

    similar: casualty, fatality, prey, victim
    related: loser, underdog, martyr, sacrifice, collateral damage, murderee
    near: gainer, victor, winner, harmer, injurer, assassin, killer, murderer

  3. failure to win a contest

    "we're discouraged by our loss on Friday, but we're training hard for next week's game nevertheless"

    similar: beating, defeat, drubbing, licking, lump, overthrow, plastering, rout, shellacking, trimming, trouncing, whipping
    related: collapse, debacle, failure, fiasco, fizzle, flop, nonsuccess, setback, upset, lurch, shutout, washout, whitewash
    opposite: success, triumph, victory, win
    near: accomplishment, achievement, blowout, cakewalk, landslide, romp, runaway, sweep, walkaway, walkover

  4. the amount by which something is lessened

    "was determined to stay on the diet until he showed a loss of 10 pounds"

    similar: abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, dent, depletion, depression, diminishment, diminution, drop, drop-off, fall, falloff, reduction, shrinkage, step-down
    related: deduction, subtraction, downturn, slip, slump, curtailment, cut, cutback, retrenchment, shortening
    opposite: boost, enlargement, gain, increase, increment, raise, rise, step-up, uptick
    near: accretion, accrual, accumulation, addition, supplement, continuation, extension, upswing, uptrend, upturn

  5. the state of being robbed of something normally enjoyed

    "her loss of sleep meant that she would have trouble concentrating at work the next day"

    similar: deprivation, privation
    related: absence, dearth, lack, need, want, dispossession, denial, forfeit, forfeiture, penalty, sacrifice, bereavement, deficiency, inadequacy, insufficiency, paucity, poverty, scarcity, shortage
    near: control, ownership, possession, accumulation, acquiring, gain

  6. the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless

    "the loss of the oil tanker was more significant than the loss of its cargo"

    similar: annihilation, decimation, demolishment, demolition, desolation, destruction, devastation, extermination, extinction, havoc, mincemeat, obliteration, ruin, ruination, wastage, wreckage
    related: depredation, despoilment, despoliation, breakup, collapse, disintegration, dissolution, assassination, execution, killing, massacre, slaughter, dismantlement, effacement, eradication
    opposite: building, construction, erection, raising
    near: rescue, salvage, salvation, saving, conservation, preservation, protection, reclamation, reconstruction, re-creation, refurbishment, regeneracy, remodeling, renovation, restoration

Related Entry: At a loss (phrase)

At a loss is a different word from Loss. The synonyms below are for at a loss, not for loss.

  1. faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do

    "She tried everything to salvage the friendship but was at a loss."

    similar: baffled, confounded, hard-pressed, hard put, nonplussed, perplexed, put to it
    related: bewildered, confused, disconcerted, fazed, embarrassed, flustered, put out
    near: undaunted, unfazed, composed, untroubled

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Loss

The most common words with a similar meaning to Loss:

mislaying, misplacement, casualty, fatality, prey, victim, beating, defeat, drubbing, licking, lump, overthrow, plastering, rout, shellacking, trimming, trouncing, whipping, abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, dent, depletion, depression, diminishment, diminution, drop, drop-off, fall, falloff, reduction, shrinkage, step-down, deprivation, privation, annihilation, decimation, demolishment, demolition

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Loss

Words with the opposite meaning of Loss:

acquisition, gain, success, triumph, victory, win, boost, enlargement, increase, increment, raise, rise, step-up, uptick, building, construction, erection, raising

Related Words for Loss

dispossession, forfeit, forfeiture, penalty, sacrifice, bereavement, absence, lack, need, want, loser, underdog, martyr, collateral damage, murderee, collapse, debacle, failure, fiasco, fizzle, flop, nonsuccess, setback, upset, lurch, shutout, washout, whitewash, deduction, subtraction

Near Antonyms of Loss

control, hands, having, keeping, possession, gainer, victor, winner, harmer, injurer, assassin, killer, murderer, accomplishment, achievement, blowout, cakewalk, landslide, romp, runaway, sweep, walkaway, walkover, accretion, accrual, accumulation, addition, supplement, continuation, extension

Word Forms of Loss

Inflections: losses

Origin & Etymology of Loss

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

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Loss

Words & Phrases Containing Loss

loss leader, loss of life, loss ratio, loss adjuster, at a loss, for a loss, profit and loss, at a loss for words, dead loss

Frequently Asked Questions about Loss

What does "Loss" mean?

"Loss" means destruction, ruin. As a noun, it is defined as: destruction, ruin. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Loss"?

Other words for "Loss" include mislaying, misplacement, casualty, fatality, prey, victim, beating and defeat. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Loss" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Loss"?

There are 113 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Loss". Common alternatives include mislaying, misplacement, casualty, fatality, prey, victim, beating, defeat, drubbing and licking.

What is the opposite of "Loss"?

Antonyms of "Loss" include acquisition, gain, success, triumph, victory, win, boost and enlargement. Near antonyms include control, hands, having and keeping.

How do you use "Loss" in a sentence?

Examples of "Loss" in a sentence: "he was upset over the loss of his wedding ring"; "the platoon was able to accomplish its reconnaissance mission without any losses"; "we're discouraged by our loss on Friday, but we're training hard for next week's game nevertheless".

Is "Loss" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Loss" is a noun.

Is "Loss" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Loss" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Loss"?

"Loss" is pronounced /ˈlȯs/.