damages
/ˈdæmɪd͡ʒɪz/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
The money paid or awarded to a claimant (in England), a pursuer (in Scotland) or a plaintiff (in the US) in a civil action as compensation for a loss suffered by the same.
Noun
Examples
The WTO dispute settlement mechanism is characterized by weaknesses such as non-retroactive damages.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “damages” mean?
The money paid or awarded to a claimant (in England), a pursuer (in Scotland) or a plaintiff (in the US) in a civil action as compensation for a loss suffered by the same.
Is “damages” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.