harm

/hɑːm/

[ HAHRM ]

🔊 Hear it on YouGlish

Definition

Meaning: Harm (noun) refers to physical injury, damage, or negative effects caused to a person, object, or situation. It can be used for both physical and non-physical (emotional, reputational, financial, etc.) damage.

La signification : Harm signifie « préjudice », « dommage », ou « tort » en anglais. Il peut s’agir de dommages physiques, moraux, financiers, ou psychologiques.

Example: "The new policy is designed to prevent harm to the environment."

Grammar: Uncountable noun (no plural: “harms” is rare and not standard). Used with verbs like “cause,” “do,” “suffer,” or “prevent.” Common collocations: “serious harm,” “irreparable harm,” “no harm,” “harm to [someone/something].”

Quote: "First, do no harm." [Hippocratic Oath]

Word Analysis

French equivalents
»» Préjudice
»» Dommage
»» Tort
»» Ⓐ Il n’a subi aucun préjudice.
»» Ⓑ Ce produit peut causer du tort à la santé.

English equivalents
»» Injury
»» Damage
»» Detriment
»» Ⓐ The chemicals did serious harm to the river.
»» Ⓑ There was no harm done in the end.
    

Dialogue

Anna: "Is this cleaning product safe for pets?"
Tom: "Yes, it’s formulated not to cause any harm."
Anna: "That’s a relief. I always worry about my cat’s health."
Tom: "No harm will come to her, I promise."
    

Poem Extract

Let No Harm [excerpt]

for Barack Obama

I pray no harm comes to this man
walking along a lonely stretch of road
that the bandits with ideas of robbing him
retreat upon seeing his face, and hearing him
calculate the size of the world.

He has traveled long on the way to the market,
the junction where the barterers come with mules
and millet, the harvest of their labor.
They have heard he has enough resources
to redeem the debts of sufferers,
     
Mervyn Taylor

Read the Full Poem

Etymology

Origin: The noun harm comes from Old English hearm, meaning "hurt, pain, evil, or insult." Its roots trace further back to Proto-Germanic *hermaz and Proto-Indo-European *kormos ("pain" or "damage"). The meaning has remained consistent over centuries, always relating to injury or damage.

Modern Usage: Harm is used in both formal and informal English, in legal, medical, and everyday contexts. It can refer to physical, emotional, financial, or reputational damage.

Grammar Note: Harm is an uncountable noun. It is not used in the plural form and appears in phrases like "do harm," "cause harm," or "suffer harm." Example: “The chemicals may cause harm to wildlife.”

Audience

Harm is universally understood in all varieties of English and is especially important in legal, medical, and business English. It is used by professionals (doctors, lawyers, policymakers) as well as in everyday speech.

When to use: Use harm when discussing injury, damage, or negative consequences, whether physical, emotional, or abstract. Example: “The company took steps to prevent harm to its employees.”

Extra! Extra!

For a fun and engaging exploration of our word of the day, watch the following…

Harm in 5 examples

Meaning of 'harm'

WordReference

For more on idiomatic usage, visit the WordReference Forums for discussions, translations, and examples in context.

Here are some quick links for further exploration:
» English⇄English – Discuss and learn about words and their usage.
» English⇄French – Explore translations and linguistic nuances.
» Synonyms⇄Antonyms – Contextual variations, etc.

Today's Word of the Day

Common Idioms & Expressions Related to "Harm"

No harm done
Used to reassure someone that no damage or offense has occurred.

Example: "Sorry I spilled your coffee!" – "Don't worry, no harm done."

---

Do more harm than good
To have a negative effect that outweighs any benefit.

Example: "Intervening now might do more harm than good."

---

Come to harm
To be injured or damaged in some way.

Example: "We made sure the children didn't come to harm."

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There's no harm in (doing something)
Used to suggest that an action is harmless or worth trying.

Example: "There's no harm in asking for help if you're stuck."

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Out of harm's way
In a safe place, away from danger.

Example: "Make sure the chemicals are stored out of harm's way."

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Intent to do harm
The deliberate desire to cause injury or damage.

Example: "There was no intent to do harm in her actions."

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Harm's way
A situation where there is danger of harm.

Example: "The firefighters put themselves in harm's way to save others."

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First, do no harm
A principle from medical ethics: avoid causing injury or suffering.

Example: "Doctors are taught: 'First, do no harm.'"

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