Noun B1 — Intermediate /lɒs/

Loss — Definition, Examples & Pronunciation

The fact of no longer having something — or someone — that mattered.

Quick Definition

Loss is a noun meaning the fact of losing something; the harm or disadvantage caused by losing; or the death of a person. Memory loss of vocabulary can be prevented with regular review.

What Does Loss Mean?

Loss comes from Old English los, meaning destruction or ruin, related to the verb losian (to perish or be destroyed). It shares a Germanic root with the verb lose and the adjective lost, and is distantly connected to Old Norse los, meaning the loosening or breaking up of ranks in battle. The word entered its modern form in Middle English as the sense broadened from physical ruin to the everyday experience of no longer having something.

In contemporary English, loss covers three closely related senses. The first is purely factual — you once had something and now you do not: job loss, memory loss, hair loss. The second sense carries an emotional weight: the harm, disadvantage, or suffering that results from losing: a great loss to the team, a financial loss. The third sense, often the most personal, refers to the death of a person: The family is still grieving their loss.

Because loss is so common and so versatile, it appears in a wide range of fixed phrases and collocations. Understanding these patterns — rather than translating word-for-word from your first language — is the key to using loss naturally in both written and spoken English.

Example Sentences

SentenceLevelUsage note
She felt sad after the loss of her cat. A2 loss of + noun phrase (death / loss of a pet)
Memory loss of vocabulary can be prevented with regular review. B1 compound noun: memory loss; loss as subject
The factory closure resulted in significant job loss across the region. B1 compound noun: job loss; formal register
The charity reported a net loss of £40,000 for the financial year. B2 financial/business context; countable use
She was at a complete loss to explain how the data had been corrupted. C1 idiomatic phrase: at a loss (= unable to understand or explain)

Collocations

CollocationExample
weight lossRegular exercise can support healthy weight loss.
job lossAutomation has led to widespread job loss in manufacturing.
memory lossStress can sometimes cause temporary memory loss.
hair lossMany people experience some hair loss as they get older.
financial lossThe flood caused a financial loss of over a million pounds.
suffer a lossThe company suffered a heavy loss in the second quarter.
at a lossHe was completely at a loss for words when he heard the news.
loss of lifeEmergency services worked to prevent any loss of life.
total lossAfter the fire, the insurance company declared the car a total loss.
profit and lossEvery business must keep a profit and loss account.

Usage Notes

Key Patterns to Remember

  • loss of + noun: loss of memory, loss of confidence, loss of life, loss of income
  • suffer / experience / incur a loss: more formal than simply "have a loss"
  • at a loss: two meanings — (1) selling below cost; (2) not knowing what to do or say
  • Compound nouns: weight loss, job loss, memory loss, hair loss — no article needed when used generically
  • Countable vs uncountable: "a loss" or "losses" (specific events); "loss" uncountable (the general concept)
  • Do not confuse lose (verb) and loss (noun): "Did you lose your keys?" / "The loss of your keys must be frustrating."

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

I don't want to loose this opportunity.

I don't want to lose this opportunity. (lose is the verb; loose means not tight)

She made a loss of her job.

She suffered a job loss. / She lost her job. (loss of or use the verb lose)

He had a big loss of money in the investment.

He incurred a significant financial loss on the investment. (use natural collocations)

Related Words

lose (verb) lost (adjective / past tense) losses (plural) gain profit grief bereavement deficit

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “loss”

What does loss mean in English?
Loss means the fact of no longer having something you once had, the harm or disadvantage that results from not having it, or the death of a person. For example: 'job loss' (no longer having a job), 'financial loss' (money that has been lost), and 'the loss of a loved one' (someone has died).
What is the difference between loss and lose?
'Lose' is the verb: 'I always lose my keys.' 'Loss' is the noun: 'Losing my keys was a big loss of time.' A very common ESL mistake is writing 'loose' instead of 'lose'. Remember: lose (verb) — lost (past tense) — loss (noun).
Is loss countable or uncountable?
Loss can be both. It is countable when referring to specific events: 'The company reported two heavy losses this year.' It is uncountable when used in a general or abstract sense: 'The project ended in total loss.' When in doubt, check whether you can say 'a loss' or 'losses' — if so, it is being used as a countable noun.
How do you use loss in a sentence?
Loss is most often used as the object of a verb ('suffer a loss', 'experience loss') or as a noun modifier ('job loss', 'weight loss', 'memory loss'). You can also use it after a possessive: 'The team's loss was unexpected.' Avoid saying 'make a loss of something' — instead say 'suffer a loss' or 'incur a loss'.
What are common collocations with loss?
Common collocations include: job loss, weight loss, memory loss, hair loss, profit and loss, financial loss, loss of life, at a loss, net loss, and total loss. In academic or business writing, 'incur a loss' and 'offset a loss' are frequently used. In everyday speech, 'at a loss for words' means you do not know what to say.
What does 'at a loss' mean?
'At a loss' is an idiomatic phrase with two meanings. First, it can mean selling something for less than it cost: 'The business sold the property at a loss.' Second, and more commonly in everyday speech, 'at a loss' means uncertain or unable to understand: 'I'm completely at a loss — I have no idea what to do next.'
What is the opposite of loss?
The main antonym of loss is 'gain'. Other opposites depending on context include: profit (financial), win (in competition), recovery (health or wellbeing), and acquisition (obtaining something). In accounting, the opposite of a net loss is a net profit or surplus.
What are the different meanings of loss?
Loss has three main meanings in English. (1) The fact of no longer having something: 'loss of employment', 'memory loss'. (2) The harm or disadvantage caused by losing: 'The flood caused significant financial loss.' (3) The death of a person: 'The family was devastated by their loss.' All three senses are common in both formal and informal English.
What is the origin of the word loss?
Loss comes from Old English 'los', meaning destruction or ruin, related to the verb 'losian' (to perish or be lost). It is connected to Old Norse 'los' (looseness, breaking up of ranks). The modern sense of losing a possession or a person developed in Middle English. The verb 'lose' and the adjective 'lost' share the same Germanic root.
How can I practise using loss in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise loss in context, or use Flash Cards to memorise loss alongside related words such as lose, lost, and gain. Writing short sentences using common collocations — 'weight loss', 'job loss', 'at a loss' — is an excellent way to build fluency with this important vocabulary item.