The definition of deleterious is something that is harmful or damaging.
(adjective)An example of deleterious is how smoking can kill a human being.
See deleterious in Webster's New World College Dictionary
adjective
Origin: Gr dēlētērios < dēlēter, a destroyer < dēleisthai, to injure < IE base *del-, to split
Related Forms:
See deleterious in American Heritage Dictionary 4
adjective
Origin:
Origin: From Greek dēlētērios
Origin: , from dēlētēr, destroyer
Origin: , from dēleisthai, to harm
.Related Forms:
Learn more about deleterious