harm Definition
- 1physical or mental damage or injury
- 2cause harm to someone or something
Using harm: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "harm" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Smoking can cause harm to your health.
Example
The storm caused a lot of harm to the crops.
Example
He didn't mean to cause any harm.
Example
She was arrested for causing criminal harm.
harm Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with harm
a principle of medical ethics that states that healthcare providers must not harm patients, either intentionally or through negligence
Example
The Hippocratic Oath includes the principle of 'do no harm.'
harm's way
a situation in which someone is exposed to danger or risk
Example
The soldiers were ordered to retreat from harm's way.
a public health strategy that aims to reduce the negative consequences associated with certain behaviors, such as drug use or unprotected sex, without necessarily eliminating the behavior itself
Example
Harm reduction programs provide clean needles to drug users to prevent the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis.
Summary: harm in Brief
The term 'harm' [hɑːm] refers to physical or mental damage or injury, and the act of causing such damage. It can be used in phrases like 'do no harm,' which is a principle of medical ethics, and 'harm's way,' which describes a situation of danger or risk. 'Harm reduction' is a public health strategy that aims to minimize the negative consequences of certain behaviors.