Will Lose vs. Will Loss – Which is Correct?

The correct phrase is “will lose,” not “will loss.” Use lose as the future form of the verb lose, meaning to misplace, fail to win, or be deprived of something. Loss is a noun, as in “a loss of income,” so it cannot follow will directly in standard English usage.

Will Lose or Will Loss – Which is Correct?

Will lose is correct. It uses the modal verb will followed by the base form of the verb lose. The phrase means that someone or something is expected to misplace something, fail to win, or experience deprivation in the future.

Will loss is incorrect in standard English because loss is a noun, not a verb. The confusion usually comes from the similar pronunciation and spelling of lose and loss. You can write “will lose money,” but you should write “will suffer a loss” or “will experience a loss.”

Because spelling errors often cause confusion, compare Loosing vs. Losing before choosing the correct form.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

Use the action-versus-event test. If the sentence describes what someone will do, choose the verb lose: “The team will lose the game.” If the sentence names the negative result or event, choose the noun loss: “The defeat will be a loss for the team.” Remember that will must be followed by a verb, so “will lose” is correct.

How to Use Will Lose

Will lose is a future-tense verb phrase formed with the modal auxiliary will and the base verb lose. It can describe a future failure to win, the future misplacement of an object, or the future disappearance or deprivation of something. It is appropriate in casual, academic, business, and formal writing.

After will, use lose, not loses, lost, or losing. The same form is used with every subject: “I will lose,” “she will lose,” “they will lose,” and “the company will lose.”

Example 1: The home team will lose the match unless it improves its defense.

Example 2: Keep your passport in a safe place, or you will lose it.

Example 3: The retailer will lose customers if it continues to raise prices.

What Are the Different Forms of Lose?

Lose is an irregular verb. Its principal forms are lose in the present tense, loses for third-person singular present tense, losing as the present participle, and lost for both the simple past tense and past participle.

• Present: I lose my concentration easily.
• Third-person singular: He loses his temper quickly.
• Present participle: They are losing valuable time.
• Past: We lost the final game.
• Future: She will lose the opportunity if she waits too long.

The spelling lose has one “o” after the “l” and ends with a voiced “z” sound. The word loss has two “s” letters and ends with an “s” sound.

Etymology of the Word Lose

Lose comes from the Old English verb losian, meaning to perish, be destroyed, or become lost. It is related to older Germanic words associated with separation and destruction. Over time, its meaning expanded to include failing to win, misplacing something, and being deprived of an advantage or possession.

Related Concepts

Understanding the difference between verbs and nouns makes it easier to choose between lose and loss in future-tense sentences.

• Modal auxiliary verbs: Words such as will, can, may, and should are followed by the base form of a verb. Therefore, standard English uses “will lose,” not “will loss.”
• Verb and noun distinction: A verb expresses an action or state, while a noun names a person, place, thing, or concept. Lose describes an action; loss names the result or experience of losing.
• Irregular verbs: The past form of lose is lost, not “losed.” Its irregular forms must be memorized.
• Homophones and near-homophones: Lose and loss sound similar, which often causes spelling errors, although their final sounds are different.

Examples from Media and Literature

The correct phrase will lose appears naturally when writers and speakers discuss future defeat, future consequences, or future deprivation.

• Sports reporting: A journalist may write, “The team will lose its playoff position if it fails to win tonight.” Here, will lose describes a future consequence.
• Business news: A financial report might state, “The company will lose revenue if demand continues to fall.” The phrase refers to an expected future reduction.
• Classic literature: In a story involving a difficult choice, a character may warn that someone “will lose everything” by betraying a trusted friend.
• Adventure films: A hero may tell an opponent, “You will lose this battle,” using will lose to predict future defeat.
• Everyday dialogue: A parent might say, “You will lose your place in line if you leave now,” using the phrase to describe a likely future result.

Lose Synonyms

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is “will lose” or “will loss” correct?
“Will lose” is correct. Lose is a verb that follows the modal verb will. Loss is a noun and cannot normally follow will in this construction.

Question 2: What is the difference between lose and loss?
Lose is a verb meaning to misplace something, fail to win, or no longer have something. Loss is a noun referring to the act, result, or experience of losing.

Question 3: Can I say “the business will loss money”?
No. Say, “The business will lose money.” Alternatively, use the noun in a different structure: “The business will experience a loss of money” or “The business will suffer a financial loss.”

Question 4: Is “lost” the past tense of lose?
Yes. The correct past-tense sentence is “They lost the game.” The future form is “They will lose the game.”

Question 5: How can I remember the spelling of lose?
Remember that lose is the verb used for an action and has one “s.” The noun loss has two “s” letters, like the additional sound or result associated with losing something.

Conclusion

Will lose is the correct phrase because lose is the base-form verb required after will. Loss is a noun and should appear in phrases such as “a financial loss” or “suffer a loss.” Pro tip: Using the correct form in professional emails, reports, and applications improves clarity and protects your professional reputation.