loss

/lɒs/ (bre, ipa) · /lɔːs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlȯs/ (ame, mw)

loss — noun

  • losssingular
  • lossesplural

1. the condition of not possessing something any more that was once yours, or of no

1.名詞B1
釋義

the condition of not possessing something any more that was once yours, or of noticing that a physical or mental ability has grown weaker.

例句

Christopher started looking for a new job after the loss of his previous position.

loss + of + noun phrase for losing a possession or status

Tuan noticed a gradual loss of hearing in his left ear after years of factory work.

同義詞
  • deprivation

    stronger, implies something was taken away forcibly rather than merely lost

  • forfeiture

    legal term for losing property or rights as a penalty

  • reduction

    focuses on the decrease in amount rather than the emotional sense of being without

反義詞
  • gain

    opposite of loss in quantity or value

  • acquisition

    opposite in the sense of obtaining something new

文法句型

loss + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often followed by 'of' to specify what is no longer held (loss of appetite, loss of income, loss of sight). Common in medical and financial contexts with fixed expressions such as hair loss, weight loss, memory loss.

常見錯誤

❌I suffered a lose of my wallet.
✅I suffered the loss of my wallet.
💡'loss' is a noun; 'lose' is a verb.
❌The loss of weight is good for health.
✅Weight loss is good for health.
💡'weight loss' is the standard fixed expression, not 'loss of weight'.

2. a disadvantage or problem caused when someone leaves a place or organization, or

2.名詞B1
釋義

a disadvantage or problem caused when someone leaves a place or organization, or when something useful or valuable is no longer available.

例句

Vikram's move to another university was a great loss to the physics department.

a + [adjective] + loss + to + [organisation]

The loss of experienced nurses made it harder for the hospital to maintain good patient care.

同義詞
  • disadvantage

    more general; doesn't carry the emotional weight of losing something specific

  • setback

    implies a delay or obstacle to progress rather than a permanent absence

  • detriment

    more formal, suggesting harm or damage

反義詞
  • asset

    something valuable or useful that a person or organisation has

文法句型

loss + to + noun phrase

用法筆記

Commonly used after 'be a loss to/for' to express that someone or something was valuable and is now missed. Subject is often a person leaving or a resource disappearing.

常見錯誤

❌His leaving is loss for the team.
✅His leaving is a loss for the team.
💡'loss' in this sense is countable and needs an article.
❌The loss of him is great.
✅His loss is a great one for the company.' or 'Losing him was a great loss.
💡Avoid vague pronoun reference; specify who or what was lost.

3. the event of someone dying, particularly somebody who was close to you or whom y

3.名詞B1
釋義

the event of someone dying, particularly somebody who was close to you or whom you cared about deeply.

例句

The entire family gathered to mourn the loss of their grandmother.

mourn + the loss + of + person — formal expression of grief

Vinícius still struggles to cope with the sudden loss of his father two years ago.

同義詞
  • bereavement

    more formal; refers specifically to the state of having lost someone through death

  • death

    direct and factual; 'loss' is a gentler, euphemistic alternative

  • passing

    euphemistic and softer than 'death'; common in obituaries

文法句型

mourn + the loss + of + person

用法筆記

Often used in polite or formal expressions of sympathy (I was sorry to hear of your loss). Distinguish from sense 6 (LARGE-SCALE DEATHS), which refers to mass casualties during war or disaster rather than individual bereavement.

常見錯誤

❌She suffered from loss after loss.
✅She suffered one loss after another.
💡Clarify that you mean bereavements, not abstract 'loss'.
❌I'm sorry for your lose.
✅I'm sorry for your loss.
💡'loss' is the noun; 'lose' is the verb form.

4. the financial condition of a company or organization when its spending exceeds t

4.名詞B2
釋義

the financial condition of a company or organization when its spending exceeds the money it earns over a set period of time.

例句

The small bakery made a loss in its first year of operation.

make + a + loss — standard business phrase

The airline announced a net loss of two million dollars for the last quarter.

同義詞
  • deficit

    technical term for the amount by which spending exceeds income; used in budgets

  • shortfall

    emphasises the gap between what was expected and what was actually earned

  • red ink

    informal; from the practice of writing losses in red ink on financial statements

反義詞
  • profit

    the amount of money earned after subtracting costs

  • gain

    increase in value or financial return

文法句型

make + a + loss

operate + at + a + loss

用法筆記

Commonly paired with verbs such as report, make, suffer, or incur, and with the preposition 'at' to describe continuous unprofitability (operating at a loss). A loss is the opposite of a profit.

常見錯誤

❌They made loss of two million.
✅They made a loss of two million.
💡'loss' in this sense is usually countable and requires an article.
❌The company is in loss.
✅The company is operating at a loss.
💡Use 'at a loss', not 'in loss', for financial contexts.

5. the result of an individual player or a group failing to beat an opponent in a s

5.名詞B1
釋義

the result of an individual player or a group failing to beat an opponent in a sport or contest.

例句

The team's fourth loss in a row left the fans feeling disappointed.

loss in a row — describing consecutive defeats

Tanvi was determined to learn from her loss and train harder for the next match.

同義詞
  • defeat

    direct synonym; implies being beaten by an opponent

  • failure

    broader; can apply to any unsuccessful attempt, not just competitive games

  • upset

    specifically a loss by a stronger player or team to a weaker one

反義詞
  • win

    a victory in a game or competition

  • victory

    more formal than 'win'

文法句型

suffer + a + loss + to + opponent

用法筆記

Commonly used with suffer to indicate the outcome, or with accept/admit to describe the response. A loss is typically followed by 'to' naming the winner (a loss to the defending champions).

常見錯誤

❌The team had three loses this season.
✅The team had three losses this season.
💡'losses' is the plural of 'loss'; 'loses' is the third-person singular of 'lose'.
❌They gave us a lose.
✅They handed us a loss.
💡Use 'loss' (noun) not 'lose' (verb).

6. an occasion when many people die at once, especially soldiers in a war or civili

6.名詞B2
釋義

an occasion when many people die at once, especially soldiers in a war or civilians in a disaster.

例句

The army suffered heavy losses during the battle for the coastal city.

heavy losses — standard military collocation

The earthquake resulted in a terrible loss of life across the affected region.

loss of life — formal phrase for deaths in a disaster

同義詞
  • casualties

    includes both killed and wounded; more precise in military reporting

  • fatalities

    formal; refers only to deaths, not injuries

  • toll

    often used in 'death toll' to describe the total number of people killed in a single event

文法句型

suffer + losses

loss + of + life

用法筆記

Frequently used in military and news reporting contexts. 'Losses' in the plural refers to the number of people killed. 'Loss of life' is a more general formal expression used for any disaster, natural or human-caused. Distinguish from sense 3 (BEREAVEMENT), which refers to individual deaths with an emotional or personal dimension.

常見錯誤

❌The earthquake's lose was terrible.
✅The earthquake's loss of life was terrible.
💡'loss of life' is the correct fixed expression for mass fatalities.
❌The team suffered heavy losses.' (when referring to sports)
✅Use 'defeat' or 'loss' in the singular for sports; 'heavy losses' implies casualties in a military context.