What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
prejudicial
Example
The judge ruled that the evidence was prejudicial to the defendant's case. [prejudicial: adjective]
Example
It is important to avoid making prejudicial assumptions about people based on their appearance or background. [prejudicial: adjective]
detrimental
Example
Smoking is detrimental to your health. [detrimental: adjective]
Example
The company's decision to cut costs had a detrimental effect on employee morale. [detrimental: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Detrimental is more commonly used than prejudicial in everyday language. Detrimental is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while prejudicial is less common and often used in legal or formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between prejudicial and detrimental?
Both prejudicial and detrimental are often used in legal or formal contexts, but prejudicial may be perceived as more formal due to its association with legal terminology and proceedings.
