Pronunciation: [hˈɑːmz] (IPA) 
The word "harms" is spelled with the letter combination "h-a-r-m-s", pronounced as /hɑrms/. The "h" is a voiceless glottal fricative sound, followed by the "a" which is an open central unrounded vowel. "R" is a voiced alveolar approximant sound which is followed by the "m", which is a bilabial nasal sound. Finally, the "s" is an unvoiced alveolar sibilant sound. Overall, the spelling of "harms" accurately represents its pronunciation.
Harms, as a noun, refers to the detrimental effects or negative consequences that result from an action, situation, or condition. It encompasses various forms of damage, injury, detriment, or suffering caused to individuals, societies, or the environment. These adverse effects can be physical, psychological, emotional, or social in nature.
In a broader sense, harms can be distinguished as direct and indirect. Direct harms directly cause injury or damage to a person or entity. This can include physical injuries, such as bodily harm, or material damage, such as property destruction. Indirect harms, on the other hand, are more intangible or secondary in nature. They are the consequences that arise as a result of an initial action but are not directly caused by it. Examples of indirect harms can include negative social impacts, like the breakdown of relationships or the erosion of trust, or environmental consequences, such as pollution or ecosystem degradation.
Harms can occur in various contexts, ranging from personal relationships and interactions to legal matters and societal issues. It is important to identify, mitigate, and prevent harms to ensure the well-being and safety of individuals and communities. In this regard, the concept of harms often serves as a guiding principle for ethics, law enforcement, public policy, and social justice efforts, as it helps to determine the appropriate boundaries and responsibilities of individuals or institutions in order to prevent or minimize harm.
The word harms originated from the Old English word hearm or hearmas. It evolved from the Proto-Germanic word harma- and further back to the Proto-Indo-European root *kormo-, meaning grief or sorrow. Over time, the word hearm transformed into harme in Middle English and eventually became harm in Modern English. The plural form of harm is harms.
