What is the Difference Between Loss and Lost?

06/25/2025 • Matheus Moraes

The difference between "loss" and "lost" lies in their grammatical functions and meanings. Here are the key distinctions:

Loss: Loss is a noun, referring to the act of losing something or someone, or the amount that is lost. For example: "The company suffered a significant financial loss last quarter".
Lost: Lost is the past tense and past participle form of the irregular verb "lose". It can also be used as an adjective to mean "unable to be found" or "having gone astray". For example: "I lost my keys yesterday" (as a verb) and "The lost dog was found wandering in the park" (as an adjective).

In summary:

Loss is a noun, denoting the act of losing or the amount lost.
Lost is the past tense of "lose" and can also be used as an adjective to describe something unable to be found or having gone astray.

Comparative Table: Loss vs Lost

The difference between "loss" and "lost" lies in their grammatical functions and meanings. Here is a table summarizing their differences:

Term	Function	Meaning
Loss	Noun	Refers to something that is lost, the act of losing, or a decrease in value or amount.
Lost	Verb	Refers to a cause or cease one's possession due to unknown circumstances. It is the past tense and past participle form of the verb "lose".

Examples of "loss" and "lost" used in sentences:

Loss: The company suffered a significant loss due to the economic downturn.
Lost: I lost my wallet while I was at the park yesterday.

In summary, "loss" is used as a noun to describe something lost, while "lost" is the past tense of the verb "lose" and refers to the act of losing something or experiencing a decrease in value or amount.