loss
noun
uk/lɒs/ us [ C or U ]
a situation in which you no longer have something or have less of something, or the process that causes this:
The loss of jobs in the convenience food industry seems inevitable.
loss of earnings/income/pay She received compensation for loss of earnings through the illness.
a loss in sth The new road will cause losses in economic value to many local properties.
[ C ] FINANCE, COMMERCE
a situation in which a business or an organization spends more money than it earns, or loses money in another way:
announce/post/report a loss (of sth) The company announced a loss of €1.3m last year.
a loss in revenue
big/financial/heavy losses
a net/operating loss
a pre-tax/after-tax loss
incur/make/realize a loss In a bid to attract customers, some insurers may even be making a loss on contracts marketed to certain key buyers.
a loss on an investment/a sale
[ C ] STOCK MARKET
a situation in which the value of shares goes down:
a loss in sth Gains in oil and gas were partly offset by losses in consumer products and precious metals.
[ U ] INSURANCE
a situation in which property is damaged, lost, or stolen, and an insurance company must pay to replace it:
We will cover your house contents against accidental loss or damage during the removal.
[ C ]
a disadvantage caused by someone leaving an organization:
be a loss to sb/sth It would be a great loss to the department if you left.
loss of face
a situation in which someone loses the respect of other people because of something they have done:
His first deal with the company had turned into a very public loss of face.
See also
lose
operate, run, etc. at a loss
FINANCE, COMMERCE
to fail to make a profit in a business:
Of the 235 large industrial projects, 46 are running at a loss.
Compare
gain noun
profit noun
See also
actual loss
all-loss
annual loss
capital loss
credit loss
exceptional loss
first-half loss
full-year loss
gross loss
job loss
loan loss
net loss
one-time loss
operating loss
paper loss
passive loss
quarterly loss
tax loss
trading loss
underwriting loss