Demerit

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -É›rɪt

Origin

From Old French desmerite (compare French démérite).

Full definition of demerit

Noun

1. (quality of being inadequate) A quality of being inadequate; a fault; a disadvantage
• BurkeThey see no merit or demerit in any man or any action.
• Sir W. TempleSecure, unless forfeited by any demerit or offense.
2. A mark given for bad conduct to a person attending an educational institution or serving in the army.
• 2002, , by G.W.Bush:A few of you have followed in the path of the perfect West Point graduate, Robert E. Lee, who never received a single demerit in four years. Some of you followed in the path of the imperfect graduate, Ulysses S. Grant, who had his fair share of demerits, and said the happiest day of his life was "the day I left West Point." (Laughter.)
3. That which one merits or deserves, either of good or ill; desert.
• HollandBy many benefits and demerits whereby they obliged their adherents, they acquired this reputation.

Synonyms

• discredit

Antonyms

• merit

Derived terms

• demerit point

Verb

1. (transitive, archaic) To deserve.
• 1840, Alexander Campbell, Dolphus Skinner, A discussion of the doctrines of the endless misery and universal salvation (page 351)You hold that every sin is an infinite evil, demeriting endless punishment.
• UdallIf I have demerited any love or thanks.
2. To depreciate or cry down.

Anagrams

• dimeter
• merited
• mitered