What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
detriment
Example
The new policy was to the detriment of the company's profits. [detriment: noun]
Example
Smoking is detrimental to your health. [detrimental: adjective]
disadvantage
Example
Being short can be a disadvantage in basketball. [disadvantage: noun]
Example
One disadvantage of living in the city is the high cost of living. [disadvantage: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disadvantage is more commonly used than detriment in everyday language. Disadvantage is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while detriment is less common and has a more formal tone.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between detriment and disadvantage?
Detriment has a more formal and serious connotation than disadvantage, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
