Perte

Perte is a French noun meaning the act or result of losing something, or the harm that comes from it. It covers a broad range of senses, including financial damage, physical misplacement, or waste. The word is commonly used in everyday language as well as in technical and professional contexts.

Etymology and senses. Perte derives from Latin perdere, via Old French perte, and is related to concepts of loss, ruin, and damage. In French, perte can describe both intangible losses (time, memory, energy) and tangible ones (money, goods, a valuable item).

Financial and economic use. In finance and business, perte denotes financial loss. Common phrases include perte nette (net loss) and perte d’exploitation (operating loss). The term can also appear in accounting discussions comparing losses and gains, or in insurance contexts describing damages and indemnities.

Everyday uses. Perte occurs in many everyday expressions: perte de temps (loss of time), perte de poids (weight loss), perte de mémoire (memory loss), perte d’audition (hearing loss), and perte de vue (loss of sight). In common speech, it can also describe a decline in performance, such as être en perte de vitesse (to be losing speed).

Science, engineering, and medicine. In science, pertes d’énergie (energy losses) and pertes de charge (pressure losses) are standard terms in physics and hydraulics. In medicine, perte de sang (blood loss) or perte de mémoire (memory loss) are frequent phrases; la perte d’un être cher refers to bereavement.

Usage note. Perte is a feminine noun (la perte) and is often contrasted with défaites in sports, where défaite is the usual term for defeat. In many technical fields, perdita is translated as loss or loss event in English, while contexte and nuance guide the choice of term.