Definition

1. Noun:
   • The fact or process of losing something or someone: "Loss" refers to the state of no longer having something or someone that you once had.
   • A person, thing, or amount lost: "Loss" can also refer to the specific thing or amount that is lost.
   • The feeling of sadness after losing someone or something: "Loss" describes the emotional experience of grief or deprivation.
   • A defeat in a contest: "Loss" means the opposite of a win or victory.
   • A financial deficit: In business, "loss" is the amount by which expenses exceed revenue.

Examples of Usage

• General:
  • The loss of her keys caused a delay.
  • He felt a deep sense of loss after his friend moved away.
• Business/Finance:
  • The company reported a significant loss this quarter.
• Competition:
  • The team's loss was disappointing to their fans.
• Emotional:
  • She is still grieving the loss of her pet.

Advanced Usage

• "to be at a loss": to be confused or uncertain about what to do or say.
  • I was at a loss for words when I heard the news.
• "a dead loss": something or someone completely useless or unsuccessful.
  • That old computer is a dead loss; it won't even turn on.
• "cut one's losses": to stop doing something that is causing you to lose money or resources, in order to prevent further loss.
  • After two failed seasons, the investor decided to cut his losses and sell the team.

Variants and Related Words

• Lose (verb): to no longer have something; to be defeated.
  • Try not to lose your ticket.
• Lost (adjective): unable to be found; unable to find one's way; no longer possessed.
  • We got lost in the city.
• Loser (noun): a person or thing that loses a contest; (informal) a person who is generally unsuccessful.
  • The loser of the game must buy coffee.

Synonyms

• Deficit: the amount by which something, especially money, is too small.
• Deprivation: the damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities.
• Forfeiture: the loss or giving up of something as a penalty for wrongdoing.
• Defeat: an instance of defeating or being defeated.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• "loss out on": (less common variant of "miss out on") to fail to get or experience something good.
  • We lost out on the deal because we were too slow to decide.

Related Idioms

• "a loss leader": an item sold at a loss to attract customers who will then buy other, profitable goods.
  • The supermarket uses milk as a loss leader.
• "throw someone for a loss": (American football idiom, used figuratively) to confuse or surprise someone greatly.
  • The sudden question threw the speaker for a loss.

Noun

1. euphemistic expressions for death
   • thousands mourned his passing
2. military personnel lost by death or capture
3. the amount by which the cost of a business exceeds its revenue
   • the company operated at a loss last year
   • the company operated in the red last year
4. the experience of losing a loved one
   • he sympathized on the loss of their grandfather
5. the disadvantage that results from losing something
   • his loss of credibility led to his resignation
   • losing him is no great deprivation
6. the act of losing someone or something
   • everyone expected him to win so his loss was a shock
7. gradual decline in amount or activity
   • weight loss
   • a serious loss of business
8. something that is lost
   • the car was a total loss
   • loss of livestock left the rancher bankrupt