Pronunciation: [dˈamɪd͡ʒɪz] (IPA) 
The word "damages" is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription of /ˈdæmɪdʒɪz/. The first syllable, "dam," is pronounced with a short "a" sound, /æ/, followed by a consonant blend of "m" and "d," /md/. The second syllable, "ages," has a long "a" sound, /eɪ/, and ends with the consonant sound "z," /z/. "Damages" is a plural noun that refers to compensation awarded in a legal case, typically as a result of harm or injury caused.
Damages refers to the monetary compensation awarded to a party as a result of a breach of duty, contract, or other legal wrong committed by another party. It represents the amount of money considered sufficient to compensate for the harm, loss, or injury suffered by the aggrieved party.
In civil law, damages can be classified into different categories based on the types of harm suffered. Compensatory damages are intended to restore the injured party to the position they were in before the wrongful act occurred. This can include the reimbursement of medical expenses, lost wages, or property damage. General damages are non-monetary losses that are more subjective and difficult to quantify, such as pain, suffering, emotional distress, or loss of consortium.
In certain circumstances, punitive damages may be awarded in addition to compensatory damages. Punitive damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer for their reckless or intentional behavior and to deter others from engaging in similar conduct in the future.
The calculation of damages varies depending on the jurisdiction and the nature of the case. In some instances, a court or jury determines the amount of damages based on the evidence presented during legal proceedings. In other cases, damages may be agreed upon through negotiation or stipulated through a pre-existing contract. Ultimately, damages aim to provide a form of financial redress for the harm caused and a means of restoring justice to the injured party.
Money awarded by a court of law on account of loss or injury to property, or injury to person, through the fault of another.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "damages" has its etymological origin in the Old French word "damage" (plural "damages") which can be traced back to the Latin word "damnum". In Latin, "damnum" had a broader meaning of "harm" or "injury" and was associated with the notion of financial loss or injury caused to someone's property, rights, or person. Through borrowing and evolution, the word eventually entered English as "damage" and later took the specific legal meaning referring to compensation or monetary award granted to a party who has suffered harm, loss, or injury. Thus, "damages" in its legal sense refers to the monetary compensation awarded by a court to a plaintiff as reparation for the harm they have suffered.
